Durban - Achieving AIDS reduction targets and eventually ending the disease by 2030 is taking centre stage at the 21st International AIDS conference, underway in Durban.
The conference has seen the debate on finding an effective HIV preventative vaccine resonate among many delegates. And now it has emerged that South Africa is about to launch a ground breaking AMP study or Antibody Mediated Prevention study soon, the biggest in seven years.
The AMP study is a new idea for HIV prevention that is related to what has been done in HIV vaccine research. In traditional HIV vaccine studies, people get a vaccine and researchers wait to see if their bodies will make antibodies against HIV in response. In the AMP study, researchers give people the antibodies directly.
“For this study, South Africa is one of the trial sites and there are already patients who are in the trial in our country who are getting antibodies which are being infused into their blood to prevent HIV, this is a cutting edge science,” South African National Aids Council CEO, Dr Fareed Abdullah said.
He said South African researchers have also found their own neutralising antibodies which are protective of HIV.
“There is a lot of hope and expectation that this sort of trials are key to the scientific step forward,” said Abdulla.
It also emerged on Wednesday at the conference that, after testing over 200 people with the new boosted vaccine that will be trialled, Professor Linda Bekker of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre said it was found it met all the criteria and trial can proceed.
“This is the most important vaccine trial in seven years that will happen on South African soil led by South African scientists at the Medical Research Council,” Abdulla said.
At least 5000 patients will be enrolled on the Vaccine and scientists are optimistic they will see results in four to five years.
“This is a wholly South African study. It will be done in South Africa with 5000 South Africans between the ages of 18 and 35.”
The news of this major vaccine trial comes days after Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said government was prepared to increase it’s funding of research and development in HIV.
Deputy President Ramaphosa said the investment in HIV/AIDS research will happen notwithstanding the current financial difficulty which South Africa is facing. This was based on the understanding that any breakthrough in HIV would save the country billions in the long run.
Meanwhile, US HIV Vaccine investigator, Dr Larry Correy, presented possible solutions to TB and hepatitis C, two major killers of people living with HIV. The session was chaired by Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, at the main plenary hall of the conference.
Presenting on the soon-to-start vaccine study in South Africa, Correy reported that vaccines are now back on the main stage, and reminded attendees that “getting to an AIDS-free generation will require a vaccine”.
The Aids conference ends on Friday. - SAnews.gov.za
