Is an HIV Vaccine Necessary to End AIDS?

Expanded access to antiretroviral therapy for treatment and prevention, along with other proven prevention strategies, could conceivably end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but goal would be achieved much faster if an even modestly effective HIV vaccine were available, Anthony Fauci and Hilary Marston from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) wrote in the February 6 New England Journal of Medicine.

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AIDS Vaccine Conference Kicks Off as Another Study Reports Disappointing Results

More than 1000 researchers and advocates are convening in Barcelona this week to discuss the latest developments in HIV vaccine research. But study findings published yesterday to coincide with the meeting show that one vaccine candidate thought to be promising -- the DNA/rAd5 prime-boost combination -- offered no protection in the 2500-person NVTN 505 study.

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AIDS Vaccine 2013: HIV Vaccines Disappointing So Far But Necessary to Control Epidemic

Since the first diagnosis of HIV in humans 30 years ago, there have been many scientific discoveries to slow and possibly curb the spread of the epidemic. However while some approaches have been highly successful, vaccines have not offered so much hope or good news.

As the AIDS Vaccine 2013 conference last week in Barcelona came to an end after a 4-day intensive of presentations and dialog on the place of vaccines in the HIV field, many questions were left unanswered.

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NIH Halts HIV Vaccine Study Due to Lack of Effectiveness

The National Institutes of Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseasesannounced this week that it will halt administration of an experimental HIV vaccine in the HVTN 505 trial, after an interim data analysis found that it neither prevented new HIV infections nor lowered viral load among people who did become infected.

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