On Monday, a US health agency called off an HIV vaccine trial in South Africa after it was found to be ineffective.
“An HIV vaccine is essential to end the global pandemic, and we hoped this vaccine candidate would work. Regrettably, it does not,” said the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
The vaccine was found to be ineffective in preventing the spread of HIV that causes AIDS.
The NIAID sponsored the trial within NIH and called the trial off after an independent board said the vaccine was not working.
The trail, launched in 2016, included more than 5,000 people, which took place at 14 places in South Africa.
Preliminary findings showed that “there were 123 HIV infections among volunteers who received a placebo and 129 among those who received the vaccine,” according to BBC.
Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, an alliance of organizations formed to accelerate the search for an HIV vaccine, has expressed its “deep disappointment” that the trial has been shut down. “Whilst this is a significant setback for the field, we need to continue the quest for a preventive vaccine,” according to a spokesperson.
The NIH has still been involved in two other HIV vaccine trials. It is important to note that the vaccines do not cause any risk to a person with HIV, because they do not contain the virus.
“Research continues on other approaches to a safe and effective HIV vaccine, which I still believe can be achieved,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci. He is an immunologist who has made substantial contributions to HIV/AIDS research both as a scientist and as the head of the NIAID.
