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news.GeoVax Labs, a biotechnology company, has announced that the launch of its Phase IIa human vaccine trials will take place in 12 sites across North and South America. These trials are conducted in collaboration with The National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Vaccine Trials Network.
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The Phase IIa human clinical trial will involve 150 vaccines and 75 placebo participants. The vaccine regimen employs a two-component ‘prime-boost strategy’. Trial participants will first be administered a GeoVax HIV-1 DNA vaccine which ‘primes’ the immune system followed by the second vaccine, GeoVax’s HIV-1 modified vaccinia virus boost.
Both vaccines express the three major proteins of the AIDS virus. These proteins mimic more than 50% of the components of the AIDS virus (HIV-1) but cannot cause AIDS. GeoVax AIDS vaccines are designed to prevent HIV-1 virus infection which causes acquired immunodeficiency disease.
Harriet Robinson, vice president of R&D at GeoVax Labs, said: We feel privileged to be in the position to launch our Phase IIa human trial. Going forward, each clinical site’s review board will start the vaccination process, when deemed appropriate and ready. Accordingly, HIV Vaccine Trials Network’s pharmacy will release the vaccines to each designated institution as directed by each site’s local review board.