TORONTO — A possible vaccine for HIV/AIDS has been approved for human trials, researchers from the University of Western Ontario announced on Tuesday.
University of Western Ontario researchers made the announcement on Tuesday morning that United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the vaccine for human trials.
According to a release by the University of Western Ontario, the vaccine “holds tremendous promise, having already proven to stimulate strong immune
responses in preliminary toxicology tests with no adverse effects or safety
risks.”
responses in preliminary toxicology tests with no adverse effects or safety
risks.”
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According to Dr. Chil-Yong Kang, of Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, the “FDA approval for human clinical trials is an extremely significant milestone
for our vaccine, which has the potential to save the lives of millions of people
around the world by preventing HIV infection.”
for our vaccine, which has the potential to save the lives of millions of people
around the world by preventing HIV infection.”
Not only is it the only vaccine being developed in Canada, but it is also the “first and only preventative HIV vaccine based on a genetically modified killed
whole virus.”
whole virus.”
The first phase of human trials, set to start in January 2012, will “double check the safety of the vaccine in humans, involving only 40 HIV-positive
volunteers.”
volunteers.”
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