Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a virus that brutally attacks the human immune system. Its onslaughts often lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDs, which has caused over 40 million deaths worldwide. Before recent medical advancements, HIV was often considered a death sentence. Now, individuals with HIV can live fairly normal lives following the right treatment plan. Despite this progress, no cure for HIV exists. However, researchers are currently developing a preventative HIV vaccine which could enter circulation soon.
An HIV Vaccine could save countless lives worldwide.
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In 2023, human clinical trials for an HIV vaccine known as VIR-1388 launched in both the US and South Africa. The vaccine could save countless lives if proven effective in preventing HIV infections. VIR-1388 causes the body’s immune system to produce modified T cells, white blood cells that help protect individuals from infections. These T cells are engineered to recognize HIV through exposure to a version of cytomegalovirus (CMV) containing a small amount of modified HIV. CMV is an often asymptomatic virus that unknowingly affects a large percentage of the population, which allows it to be used as a safe delivery method for vaccines. Therefore, the HIV vaccine uses CMV to expose an individual’s immune system to a small amount of the virus and enables them to fight off future contractions of HIV.
In the trial, HIV-negative participants received either a shot of VIR-1388 or a placebo. By the end of this year, researchers should be able to determine the initial safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. Since ethical considerations prohibit exposing individuals directly to HIV to test their resistance, it may be difficult to measure exactly how well the vaccine stops infection. Other vaccines targeting different parts of HIV in an approach called germline targeting are also being explored and may promise positive results. Nevertheless, the potential for a successful HIV vaccine to enter circulation is rapidly increasing. The vaccine could save countless lives, so hopefully governments across the globe will continue to invest resources into a potentially viable method of preventative treatment for HIV and AIDs.
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