Intervention Update

What's Next for the AIDS Vaccines and the Pox-Protein Public-Private Partnership

It’s been more than five years since the news broke that the Thai trial known as RV144 had found evidence of efficacy. RV144 tested a vaccine strategy that used a poxvirus-vectored vaccine to “prime” the immune system, and a different, protein vaccine to “boost” it. The overall protection was modest, but the implications were not. RV144 was the first proof of concept that an AIDS vaccine could reduce risk in humans. As such, it demanded follow up.

While there has indeed been a lot of work and significant scientific analysis over the past five years, the progress to launch additional trials in humans has been slow (see www.avac.org/vaccines for background). But activity is finally starting to ramp up in Southern Africa. Figuring out what’s happening where, when and why isn’t easy. These two graphics are designed to help.

AIDS Vaccines

To understand the research that’s emerged from RV144, you need to have a two-track mind. Most vaccines and indeed most products are developed via a suite of trials designed to bring a product to licensure. That’s one track of post-RV144 research.

The other track has a set of scientific questions that it seeks to answer. Both are going forward in the many of the same places, so it’s especially important for advocates to begin to track the tracks.