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Hiv Vaccine Canada

December 30, 2011 by · Comments Off on Hiv Vaccine Canada 

Hiv Vaccine CanadaHiv Vaccine Canada, Canadian scientists have been given the go-ahead to start testing an HIV vaccine on humans. The project will begin next month after winning approval from America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with 40 volunteers with HIV taking part in order to test its safety.

Scientists at the University of Western Ontario say the vaccine is the first which is based on a whole killed virus which has been genetically modified.

Previous trials have used only part of the virus. If the first stage is successful, the vaccine – one of few being developed in the world – will then be tested on people without the disease who are in the high-risk category for HIV infection.

Dr Kang said FDA approval was a significant milestone

Dr Chil-Yong Kang, who leads the research team, welcomed the decision to give the project approval.

“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,” he said.

Researchers say the vaccine has worked effectively in preliminary toxicology tests and has shown no adverse effects.

It has been developed in conjunction with Sumagen, a bio-technology firm.

HIV and AIDS have killed more than 28 million people around the world with an estimated 35 million people currently living with the infection.

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