This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7541735.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| HIV vaccine 'allows drug breaks' | HIV vaccine 'allows drug breaks' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication without side effects. | Scientists are testing a vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged break from their regular medication without side effects. |
| The Aids 2008 conference in Mexico City was told 345 patients in 21 centres in the US and Europe will take part in the largest-ever trial of its kind. | The Aids 2008 conference in Mexico City was told 345 patients in 21 centres in the US and Europe will take part in the largest-ever trial of its kind. |
| The vaccine has been developed by a biotechnology company based in Norway, Bionor Immuno. | The vaccine has been developed by a biotechnology company based in Norway, Bionor Immuno. |
| Results from the trial are due by the end of 2009. | Results from the trial are due by the end of 2009. |
| Any advance that gives people more treatment choices and delays the progress of the virus is a good thing Lisa PowerTerrence Higgins Trust | Any advance that gives people more treatment choices and delays the progress of the virus is a good thing Lisa PowerTerrence Higgins Trust |
| A break from standard HIV therapy would potentially alleviate the adverse side effects associated with the drugs, which can include problems with the heart and liver, diarrhoea, nausea and fat loss | |
| It may also help delay the emergence of drug-resistant viruses, as well as providing substantial savings for health care services. | It may also help delay the emergence of drug-resistant viruses, as well as providing substantial savings for health care services. |
| Dr Barry Peters, of Kings College London, is leading the research in the UK. | Dr Barry Peters, of Kings College London, is leading the research in the UK. |
| He said: "A successful immunotherapeutic HIV vaccine would give patients and doctors enormous advantages over current treatments, both in developed and developing countries. | He said: "A successful immunotherapeutic HIV vaccine would give patients and doctors enormous advantages over current treatments, both in developed and developing countries. |
| "Even if this vaccine is not the final answer, it could help the march towards a successful immunotherapeutic HIV vaccine." | "Even if this vaccine is not the final answer, it could help the march towards a successful immunotherapeutic HIV vaccine." |
| However, he stressed the vaccine was still at a very early stage of development. | However, he stressed the vaccine was still at a very early stage of development. |
| Immune response | Immune response |
| The vaccine works by stimulating an immune system response, in contrast to standard HIV drugs, which block replication of the virus. | The vaccine works by stimulating an immune system response, in contrast to standard HIV drugs, which block replication of the virus. |
| It has already been tested in two small trials on 11 and 38 HIV patients with promising results. | It has already been tested in two small trials on 11 and 38 HIV patients with promising results. |
| The majority of patients were able to refrain from taking their usual antiretroviral therapy (ART) for an average period of 31 months. | The majority of patients were able to refrain from taking their usual antiretroviral therapy (ART) for an average period of 31 months. |
| During this time their level of key infection-fighting CD4+ cells remained high above the level they had before they started taking ART. | During this time their level of key infection-fighting CD4+ cells remained high above the level they had before they started taking ART. |
| At a follow up 44 months after treatment interruption, 34% of the patients were still not back on ART. | At a follow up 44 months after treatment interruption, 34% of the patients were still not back on ART. |
| Some patients were still off ART five years after the trial was completed. | Some patients were still off ART five years after the trial was completed. |
| ART cannot usually cannot be interrupted for more than three to four months without side effects. | ART cannot usually cannot be interrupted for more than three to four months without side effects. |
| Lisa Power, head of policy at Terrence Higgins Trust said: "Any advance that gives people more treatment choices and delays the progress of the virus is a good thing. | Lisa Power, head of policy at Terrence Higgins Trust said: "Any advance that gives people more treatment choices and delays the progress of the virus is a good thing. |
| "We are not yet clear whether this vaccine will work, but we'll know more by the end of next year." | "We are not yet clear whether this vaccine will work, but we'll know more by the end of next year." |