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Africa archive: South Africa:

Four provinces take part in study into vaccine trials

The start of the first large–scale test of HIV vaccine trials has been put in motion by the South African Government. It will be conducted jointly with the International HIV Vaccine Trials Network and will be the largest such venture in South Africa to date.

Four provinces will be involved, with a total of 3,000 participants who will be recruited from Soweto, Cape Town, Klerksdorp, Medunsa and Durban, under the title of Phambili, that is, ‘going forward’.

The test vaccine has been hailed as one of the most promising current available in the world and is designed to test the concept that the study vaccine either prevents HIV infection or lowers HIV levels in those who are already infected.

The data from this study is intended to guide future vaccine development.
The researchers will also be examining the possibility that this vaccine, which is based on Clade B HIV is also effective against the Clade C variety which is prevalent in South Africa.

For further details of the research involved, visit the HIV Vaccine Trials Network website at: www.hvtn.org