Spanish vaccine against HIV showing 90 percent success

[xchrom]

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_32121.shtml

The CSIC has published the first results of tests of the vaccine on humans
Photo EFEPhoto EFE
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A Spanish vaccine against the HIV virus is showing 90% success. The CSIC, Superior Centre for Scientific Investigation, has today Wednesday presented the first results of tests on humans and they show promising results against the virus.

The CSIC has developed and patented the vaccine which has managed to trigger an immune response against the virus in 90% of the people who have been given it. The research also shows that the effects remain for at least a year in 85% of cases.

Researcher at the National Biotechnology Centre, Mariano Esteban, who took part in the research at both the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona and the Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Madrid, noted that there were no serious side effects to the vaccine, which goes under the name ‘MVA-B’.

[xchrom]

1. kick

[pinto]

2. Two thumbsup...see also -

Contact: Ainhoa Goñi
[e-mail]
0034-915-681-473
CSIC, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

MVA-B Spanish HIV vaccine shows 90 percent immune response in humans


Phase I clinical trials developed by Spanish Superior Scientific Research Council (CSIC) together with Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Madrid and Clínic Hospital in Barcelona, reveals MVA-B preventive vaccine's immune efficiency against Human's immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 90% of the volunteers who went through the tests developed an immunological response against the virus and 85% has kept this response for at least one year. Safety and efficiency of this treatment have been described in articles for Vaccine and Journal of Virology science magazines.

The success of this vaccine, CSIC's patent, is based on the capability of human's immune system to learn how to react over time against virus particles and infected cells. "MVA-B vaccine has proven to be as powerful as any other vaccine currently being studied, or even more", says Mariano Esteban, head researcher from CSIC's National Biotech Centre.

<snip>

For a vaccine to become really effective, besides its immune system's defence capability, generating a long lasting response against future attacks is the key. For this purpose, the body needs to be able to keep a basic level of memory T lymphocytes. These lymphocytes, generated after a first pathogen attack, are veteran soldiers, which can circulate the body for years, prepared to respond to a new enemy's incursion.

48th week blood tests ran on vaccinated subjects show over 50% of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were memory T lymphocytes in the 85% of the patients who kept an immune response at this point of the trials.

<more at>

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-09/ccsd-msh092711.php

[xchrom]

3. ...

:applause:

[Chiquitita]

4. excellent!

[xchrom]

5. It really is wonderful news!

[City Lights]

6. K&R! eom

[bigwillq]

7. K and R

:bounce:

[xchrom]

8. kick

[xchrom]

9. this news is too wonderful -- i can't let it sink yet. nt

[closeupready]

10. Amazing!

Big K&R!

[xchrom]

11. i know! -- i am like SO excited -- i'm surprised more people aren't thrilled by this. nt

[closeupready]

14. While it's a small sample of 30 participants, it's still encouraging.

I think if people aren't as excited as one would think, it's only because it seems like treatments and vaccines showing promise are coming so fast and furious now, it's becoming almost routine. Which is, ironically, a good development. :)

[xchrom]

16. i agree it is a good development.

and vaccines offer people such -- comparatively -- an affordable way to fight off what could other wise be devastating if not to the body then to the pocket book.

[Yo_Mama]

22. It's not that new

There have been multiple efforts along this line (using another microoganism to envelope parts of HIV to generate an immune response against HIV).

Here's one from 2008:
http://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/8837

Note the 90% rate falling off to 72% at week 72. This whole family of research is aimed at generating a long-lasting immune response safely, and then hoping to translate it to observations of HIV-infected individuals. The theory is that if you can do this, then maybe you will be able to give the vaccine to HIV-infected individuals and they will be protected against progression of the disease. That's the next likely efficacy step.

It's really quite promising, but it's early.

IMO it will work, but it won't be near 100%. It will just help things a lot. The first EuroVacc trial didn't work well, but the second is working better. They're making progress, and their results here were very good with much less of a fall-off in immune response.

[xchrom]

23. yes -- i already know all that. nt

[xchrom]

12. kick

[TexasTowelie]

13. Great news.

The question is whether the cost of the vaccine will be reasonable so that sexually active people will choose to be vaccinated.

[Yo_Mama]

17. No

Realistically, if this ever reaches the point of regulatory approval, it would be a great deal and very cost-effective at $250 or even $500.

The two issues are "How long?" and "Does it protect against infection?".

85% of recipients still had immune activity after a year, but that doesn't necessarily mean that their immune activity will protect against infection. HIV is a weird disease. In some prior experiments, the vaccines seemed to make people more susceptible to infection.

[xchrom]

20. cd4 & cd8 are the primary cells responsible for protecting against infection -- and they can wander

the immune system for years -- the study shows that a reasonable # of those cells retained their 'memory'.

now it might mean that over a life time boosters will be necessary.

[Yo_Mama]

24. I don't think anyone would complain!

But I think people are getting ahead of themselves. This is a vaccine, but the next step will probably be to test it in those who are already infected with HIV to see it seems to protect against proliferation.

[TexasTowelie]

31. I agree that if a vaccine is approved it will be great deal no matter what the price is.

However, there will always be some people that don't care and won't pay for the vaccine.

[Starry Messenger]

15. k&r

[Evasporque]

18. FIngers crossed!...real hope at last...

[xchrom]

21. ...

:toast:

[Kurska]

19. Wonderful! n/t

[hifiguy]

25. Wonderful, hopeful news!

Now watch the Repukes condemn it if it ever becomes a viable mass-inoculation option. :crazy:

[xchrom]

28. sadly -- won't be just repukes.

look what has happened w/ the HPV vaccine.

wait til it really dawns on people that the vaccine -- when it's really operating -- will be recommended for girls and boys.

oy -- you can hear the gershray already.

[amborin]

26. K&R

[HuckleB]

27. Recommended!

Thanks for sharing!

[dembotoz]

29. while wonderful news--sucks for that 10%

[HappyMe]

30. Wow! This is wonderful news.

A huge, huge step!






in memory of my dear friends-
Ricky, Ken & Rico
Rest in peace.

[progressoid]

32. Rec.

[DirkGently]

33. KNR. Sounds promising.

[HuckleB]

34. .

:kick: