The HIV-1 vaccine used in the STEP trial has already been shown to be ineffective, but might it actually cause harm?
Researchers are now concerned that the experimental HIV-1 vaccine used in the STEP trial might increase susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in certain populations. Previous analyses from the trial focused exclusively on the 1500 study participants who had low levels of preexisting immunity to the vector used in the vaccine (adenovirus serotype 5 [Ad5]). When the vaccine failed to prevent HIV-1 infection in these individuals, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board recommended that immunizations be halted (ACC Oct 1 2007), and researchers began to analyze data from the larger study population, which also included people with higher levels of preexisting Ad5 immunity.
Overall, 49 cases of HIV-1 infection occurred among the 914 men who received at l…
Author
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse
Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes; Vaccines
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesInternational Antiviral Society–USA (Board of Directors); Infectious Diseases Society of America (Past President)
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse
Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes; Vaccines
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesInternational Antiviral Society–USA (Board of Directors); Infectious Diseases Society of America (Past President)