Further Developments of New Immunogenic Peptide-based HIV Vaccines Targeting Dendritic Cells, 2013

HIV is a chronic infection that damages the immune system and eventually give immunodeficiency and disease. Today we have medications that slows the multiplication of the virus and turns the development of immune failure, but we still need new therapies. The main purpose of immune therapy or "vaccine" is to teach the immune system to control the virus in such a way that it does not damage the body.

We have previously demonstrated good immunizing ability and no serious side effects of this vaccine, first on 38 patients at Oslo University Hospital Ullevål and later on 136 patients in a foreign multicenter study. In both these clinical trials, the vaccine was injected into the skin with a helping immune hormone. Uncertain availability and price of this immune hormone and requirements for good technique can complicate the use of such vaccines in large scale and in poorer areas of the world. In this study we wish for the first time in this field to provide the same vaccine in the form of nasal drops (about 3 drops (0.15 ml) per nostril per vaccination and with another excipient (Endocine) to improve vaccination efficacy. Endocine is made for use in the nose and tested with several other vaccines in Sweden, among others for instance as flu vaccine. Such vaccination procedure will be much easier and cheaper if it is efficient. We have here an opportunity to compare with the same vaccine given as injections. The principle is well known and tested for other vaccines, but not for HIV. If we can show that such vaccination is effective manner, it will simplify the entire HIV vaccine field.