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Published online 1 October 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.969

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Future of HIV vaccine unclear

Puzzling hints of success require explanation before trials can move forward.

Erika Check Hayden

As the dust settles from last week's surprising announcement that an HIV vaccine combination may protect some people from the virus, scientists are talking about what else the vaccine trial might tell them.

On 24 September, leaders of a US$119-million study of 16,000 people in Thailand reported that the combination of two shots had reduced the risk of HIV infection by one-third (see 'Vaccine protects against HIV virus'.

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  • How can you announce this vaccine protects by a third with such data?! Firstly you don't know who was exposed other then those who returned positive results and secondly what was the 'at risk' behaviour of the study groups. 51 vs 74 of the study groups involved of 8000ish ain't statistically significant with these variables incorporated. It once again shows how the MS media lacks intellect by running this story as a positive breakthrough. I'm glad to see in this article some background information given on the subject, shame it wasn't so earlier.

    • 04 Oct, 2009
    • Posted by: Christopher Dobbie

  • it is ggod to do research for HIV vaccine; but how about the 69% hiv-1 subtype B PROCTECTION failure; what wbout protection against other HIV types subtypes
    hiv-2; hiv (A-C-E-O-N-P); AND WHAT ABOUT THE VALUE OF this vaccine among the infected individuals; how do it is prove will continue protects in 31% againt genetic variation of vaccine strain HIV-1 SUBTYPE -B.
    I BELIVE STILL NO BREAK THROUGHT DONE AND STILL PREVENTION IS THE FRIST LINE MEASURE.
    AND HIV NEEDURGENT DRUG FOR PATIENT TOWARDS VIRUS DRUG RESISTANT NEW STRAINS

    • 04 Oct, 2009
    • Posted by: mohd ibr saeed