The test vaccine is designed to train the immune system to develop a defense mechanism against the outer covering of HIV so the virus fails to spread throughout the body. It is not known if this approach will be effective in protecting the body against infection. Learning the answer is the overall objective of the Phase III trial. In order to take part, volunteers must be adults who currently are HIV-negative and at risk for HIV infection through sexual exposure. Neither the volunteers nor the research staff will know which product is being administered.
Participants receive the test vaccine by injection.
Participating in this trial is one way to make an important contribution to HIV vaccine research. Organizing the trial involved careful consideration of several ethical issues, added Kahn. If participants follow some of the risk-reduction advice, it may influence the outcome of our trial. That is fine with us. The goal is to prevent new infections.