Committed to ending AIDS. . . that means finding a vaccine

Catherine Murombedzi
VACCINES take long to develop and go through a rigorous series of tests before they are ready for use on humans as efficacy and safety for humans has to be proved.

This was said by Dr Thumbi Ndung’u of the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa last year at the International Conference on Aids and Sexually transmitted infections in Africa (ICASA) in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Dr Ndung’u was speaking at the Biomedical HIV prevention forum where experts informed the public and civil society on progress made on an HIV vaccine.

Dr Ndung’u said science nearly quit in having the polio vaccine in the early 1900.

“Vaccines take time, expertise and research to be finally given the green light. In 1909 up to 1954 the world battled polio and it took 45 years to have an effective polio vaccine approved. So vaccines are complex and people need to understand that we are not behind in getting an HIV vaccine, work is on-going and HIV has been around for 30+ years and so work is in progress,” he pointed out.

Dr Ndung’u explained in simple language that a vaccine is a substance that teaches the body’s immune system to recognise a virus that it is not affected by it again because it would have adjusted to having it in the body.

Professor Mike Chirenje from the University of Zimbabwe’s Department of Obstretics and Gynaecology has been working on microbicides research since 1994. Zimbabwe started microbicides research in 1992 and Prof Chirenje is privileged to have been among the country programme fore-runners.

Prof Chirenje said more options needed to be made available in the response to HIV and Aids.

“ARVs have given a new lease of life to people living with HIV and we are saying women have to be in control of their lives and reproductive health hence the need to have microbicides available. Microbicides are gels which are applied topically and a break-through is on the horizon,” said Prof Chirenje.

He went on to say that a ring has been developed and with this women will be empowered on sexual needs and outcomes.

“Microbicides are ARVs developed to be used by women. Today there is a ring-dapirivine that women will use by placing it in their private parts and it lasts four weeks unlike gels which have to be applied topically and are in use for 12 hours. This ring will revolutionise sexual reproductive health rights for females,” he said.

Annah Miti an AVAC fellow wrote on May 18 which is World Aids Vaccine Day that the need for an Aids vaccine is more pressing now as the world looks to ending Aids by 2030.

“The need to have a vaccine now weighs more heavily than before with the call to ending Aids by 2030. The world is now closer to getting this most needed vaccine than ever before now,” said Miti.

Miti said other measures taken have lowered the spread of the HIV virus, but a more effective regimen is needed.

“Condoms, both the male and female ones have been of use in lowering new HIV infections. However, inconsistent condom use and incorrect use has seen new infections recorded. The male circumcision has not been taken up fully. Pre exposure prophylaxis is not readily available as it must be to all who need it,” she added.

Miti was pleased with the potential to reduce HIV infections that the new dapivirine ring has shown.

“The vaginal ring – dapivirine has potential to reduce HIV infections in women. I pray that it will be available for use in the next three to four years,” she said.

Researchers have discovered hundreds of new broadly

neutralizing anti bodies (bNAbs) and are looking at their potential in prevention, treatment and cure strategies, AVAC noted in its newsletter.

Earlier this year, the first antibody mediated prevention (AMP) study began in the Americas – testing “passive immunisation” in which one particular bNAb (VRCO1) is administered directly through infusion.

A companion study will begin later in the year in Southern Africa and Zimbabwe is included.

The HIV virus has been around for over three decades and hope for a vaccine is now on horizon.

Meanwhile, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced it will fund large scale efficacy trial in South Africa to test the prime boost vaccine regime that is modified version of the RV144 vaccine that showed modest efficacy in 2009.

This will be the first large scale HIV vaccine trial to take place in South Africa since 2009. The trial will work with 5400 volunteers and will look for immune responses and safety of the modified vaccine combination. It will take four years for the data to be out.

It’s high time we saw the end to the face of Aids and a vaccine can effectively do this. I am advocating for a vaccine, it’s high time we ended Aids.

Feedback:[email protected]