I actually helped recruit for that vaccine trial. It didn't give people HIV. It did not prevent HIV in high-risk individuals. Such as MSMs with multiple partners, high-risk women, or IV drug users. The vaccine itself was not a live or attenuated vaccien. There was no HIV present in it. So it was impossible to actually give HIV to anyone. Since the individuals involed were already participating in high risk behaviors, they were routinely exposed to HIV and the vaccine was ineffective.
I work in clinical research as well. In HIV research actually. I used to work for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Which falls under the umbrella of the NIH--->National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease--->Department of AIDS. The NIH has aprtnered with several industry companies to fund and research HIV vaccines. Both preventive and therapuetic. Although that arm is the ACTG (AIDS Clinical Trial Group) which investigates therapuetic vaccines and not preventive ones like the HVTN does. I now work for the United States Army in clinical research. Once again in HIV and AIDS. I can assure you that if there were a cure for HIV or AIDS, we would have produced it by now.
Who do you think funds vaccine research? It isn't solely the NIH. The pharmaceutical companies (known in clinical research as "industry") spend millions upon millions of dollars to investigate vaccines.
They don't spend the money for nothing. Results are expected. If in three or four years (doubtful) there is an efficacious, therapeutic HIV vaccine, the pharmaceutical company that sponsored the research will rake in billions.
WeekWeak at 11:59 10/09/2008 as a reply on the comment by Badger05WeekWeak at 11:56 10/09/2008 as a reply on the comment by LettyBWeekWeak at 11:22 10/09/2008They don't spend the money for nothing. Results are expected. If in three or four years (doubtful) there is an efficacious, therapeutic HIV vaccine, the pharmaceutical company that sponsored the research will rake in billions.