A trial conducted by several scientists, notably from Inserm or the Vaccine Research Institute, shows that CD40.HIVRI.Env “is safe and capable of inducing a rapid and lasting humoral1 and cellular immune response against HIV” . No side effects were observed in the 72 volunteers for 48 weeks.
A study synonymous with hope. More than 40 years after the discovery of HIV, no vaccine has been developed against this virus responsible for AIDS which has caused the death of millions of people. But an experimental preventive vaccine, called CD40.HIVRI.Env, could perhaps change the situation.
A trial conducted over eleven months with 72 volunteers in France and Switzerland shows that this vaccine “is safe and capable of inducing a rapid and lasting humoral1 and cellular immune response against HIV”, explains Inserm in a press release.
“No serious side effects were observed”
This trial, synonymous with “encouraging results”, was carried out by Inserm, the ANRS – Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Vaccination Research Institute. The study, the results of which are presented in the journal eClinical Medicine dated October 2024, demonstrates “that the adjuvanted CD40.HIVRI.Env vaccine candidate was safe and well tolerated”.
“No serious side effects were observed. The effects of general and local reactions at the injection site were mainly mild or moderate. Two severe adverse events were reported, which were found to be unrelated to vaccination after analysis,” can we read in the press release.
A difficult fight against the virus
“HIV is a retrovirus, that is to say that the virus will integrate into the cells and will become part of the body, making it very difficult to eliminate,” Olivier reminded BFMTV.com in May 2023. Schwartz, head of the Virus and Immunity unit at the Pasteur Institute.
“For four decades, the tests were numerous“, but if there is “clearly no product about to be on the market, there are new strategies”, explained the researcher.
A treatment considered very promising, which costs some $40,000 per person each year, could fall to around $40 in a generic version, according to an estimate revealed in July 2024 by researchers at the 25th International AIDS Conference.
This anti-retroviral, developed by the American giant Gilead from the lenacapavir molecule, could be a game-changer against AIDS, many international specialists believe.
It requires only two injections per year, making it much easier to administer than daily tablets. And it is also being tested as a preventative medication (PrEP) to avoid infection, with 100% effectiveness according to a recent preliminary study.
