Therapeutic HIV vaccines were once considered to be a dead end. However, several recent research studies presented during a special session at the 2010 International AIDS Conference (IAC) show the renewed hope for therapeutic vaccines in the fight against HIV/ AIDS. An article in Nature also discussed the new developments in therapeutic HIV vaccines.
A typical vaccine, which does not yet exist for HIV, is designed to prevent infections, whereas a therapeutic vaccine treats infected people. Therapeutic HIV vaccines aim to boost damaged immune systems. Current HIV drug combination treatments have a high level of toxicity and often cause premature aging. Therapeutic vaccines have the potential to treat HIV without such side effects. Clinical trials on therapeutic HIV vaccines in the 1990’s were not successful and the line of research was marked as a failure. Currently several biotechnology companies are re-examining the potential of therapeutic vaccines for HIV with positive results.
The VIRxSYS Corporation is working to create a therapeutic HIV vaccine (VRX1273) using lentiviral vectors. This unique approach shows tremendous promise in treating those infected with HIV/ AIDS. CEO Riku Rautsola presented updated data from the Company’s HIV vaccine study during the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and The AIDS Institute’s Community Forum at International AIDS Conference 2010 in Vienna, Austria. VIRxSYS is excited to be a part of the active conversation on the potential of therapeutic HIV vaccines.