CarnalNation

Swedish researchers announced today that preliminary trials of a new AIDS vaccine have yielded highly promising results and may be more effective than the Thai vaccine that made headlines last month. "We hope that our vaccine could increase protection to 50 percent," said Professor Britta Wahren of the Karolinska Institute. The Thai vaccine was found to be 31 percent effective. Unlike the Thai vaccine, the new Swedish vaccine, called Hivis, contains multiple strains of HIV from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the U.S., which may indicate that it would be more broadly effective across different populations.

Scientists are particularly hopeful about this vaccine because the preliminary results are the strongest of any early stage AIDS vaccine trial. "It is the best preliminary result I know of for a vaccine of this type. The Swedish researchers seem to be on the right path," said Manuel Romaris, the chief scientific officer for AIDS research at the European Commission.

The preliminary or Phase II trial was conducted in 60 healthy policemen from Tanzania. A Phase II trial is the midpoint in initial vaccine trials during which safety and reaction of the immune system are assessed. A Phase I trial is conducted in a small group of individuals to assess safety only whereas a Phase III trial is a large-scale investigation. The recent Thai vaccine results emerged from a Phase III trial in which 16,000 Thais were given the vaccine. Pending financing, the Swedish researchers hope to mount a Phase III trial following the presentation of their results next week at an international AIDS conference in Paris.

[via PhysOrg]