South Africa
begins Phase II trial of HIV vaccine

A Phase II clinical trial of an experimental HIV vaccine that targets the strain of the virus most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa began this week in South Africa. The vaccine, called tgAAC09, aims to prompt two immune system defenses against HIV--an antibody attack against the virus and a killer T-cell response to invading HIV. The vaccine trial, sponsored by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and Seattle-based Targeted Genetics, will last 18 months and will include 78 HIV-negative men and women. The vaccine already has successfully completed Phase I safety studies in Belgium, Germany, and India. (Advocate.com)