The Center for Vaccine Development at Saint Louis University’s
School of Medicine is leading an international HIV vaccine trial.
The HVTN 048 clinical trial aims to look at the safety and immune
response in humans of an experimental HIV vaccine called EP
HIV-1090.

“The vaccine is not produced from the live virus or from human
cell lines, so there is no possibility that its contains live or
killed HIV virus. Therefore it is not possible for someone to get
HIV infection or AIDS by receiving this vaccine.” said Sharon Frey,
principal investigator.

The vaccine has the potential to make the immune system respond
in ways that could allow the body fight off the HIV infection. The
trial is considered a Phase One Clinical trial, meaning that the
study will test to see if the vaccine is safe and has an effect on
the human immune system.

The trial is being conducted worldwide at locations in the
United States and Africa through the HIV Vaccine Trials Network of
the National Institutes of Health. This is the first time that
clinical studies are taking place simultaneously in St. Louis,
Boston through Harvard University and Gaborone, Botswana.

Participation in the study involves volunteers between the ages
of 18 and 40 that are currently HIV negative. The trial last for a
period of 18 months, with participants being randomly assigned to
different dosage amounts and receiving four injections over a
six-month period 42 people total of all three sites will be
enrolled in the trial. Thirty-six of those enrolled will receive
the candidate vaccine with the remaining six receiving a
placebo.

The HIV virus effects millions worldwide, thus the possibility
of a vaccine is important to the spread of the virus, said Frey.
“It is easier to prevent a virus through a vaccine than to cure
one,” she added.