Scientists in Canada are set to unveil preliminary results for the first ever human applied clinical trial of the world’s only preventative HIV vaccine today.
Western University in Ontario and Sumagen Canada will present the results at a news conference at 11am EST.
The vaccine, SAV001, made headlines in December 2011 when Dr Chil-Yong Kang and his team of researchers at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry received approval by the US Food and Drug Administration to start human clinical trials.
The vaccine has proven to stimulate strong immune responses in preliminary toxicology tests with no adverse effects or safety risks.
The preliminary trial of the vaccine, based on a genetically modified killed whole virus, began in March 2012.
The primary goal was to check the safety of the vaccine in humans, involving only 40 HIV-positive volunteers.
A Phase II trial will later measure immune responses in humans, involving approximately 600 HIV-negative volunteers who are in the high-risk category for HIV infection.
Finally, a Phase III study will measure the efficacy of the vaccine, involving approximately 6,000 HIV-negative volunteers who are also in the high-risk category for HIV infection.
Western’s technology transfer office, Sumagen Canada has secured patents for the SAV001 vaccine in more than 70 countries, including the US, China, India and South Korea.
