Vaccines for HIV: Is it now possible to develop an HIV vaccine?

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• February 6, 2024

Insight summary

There have been remarkable advancements in vaccine development, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with messenger RNA (mRNA) technology being one of the most notable breakthroughs. However, the quest for an effective HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) vaccine continues to be challenging, although promising studies are underway. This virus is difficult to target with traditional vaccine approaches due to its ability to mutate rapidly. 

Vaccines for HIV context

There have been significant improvements in treating HIV, a virus that attacks the immune system. Although there is still no cure for this disease, medications are now available that can reduce the level of the virus in the body, allowing people to live full lives. Additionally, some drugs can help lower the risk of getting HIV in the first place. However, searching for a vaccine to prevent HIV infection has been relatively slow.

The focus of HIV vaccine research (as of 2023) is on developing antibodies that can prevent the virus from infecting host cells. Protein subunit vaccines have been the primary approach, which targets specific parts of the virus. One main challenge is that HIV mutates rapidly and integrates into host genes, which means that high levels of long-lasting antibodies must be present during infection to prevent virus escape and provide sterilizing immunity.

According to Steven Deeks, a vaccine researcher and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCLA), the same technology used in mRNA vaccines may be used to create an HIV vaccine. The mRNA vaccine gives the body a piece of genetic material that helps it generate a protein fragment of the virus. This process trains the immune system to recognize the virus and respond more effectively if it encounters it again. Researchers can now create and test new vaccines more quickly, enabling them to design vaccines that can produce the specific antibodies necessary.

Disruptive impact

While vaccine technology is promising, various studies have encountered some roadblocks. In October 2017, the HVTN 505 study, which tested a prophylactic approach to creating an HIV vaccine using a live vector vaccine, was concluded. The study included over 2,500 participants, but it was stopped when researchers discovered that the vaccine was ineffective in preventing HIV transmission or reducing the amount of virus in the body. Meanwhile, in 2020, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced it stopped the HVTN 702 vaccine trial. Although the vaccine was found to be safe during the trial, an independent data and safety monitoring board determined that it was ineffective in preventing the virus' transmission. 

Despite these failures, scientists will likely continue to study how mRNA can be used to make more resilient HIV vaccines. An example is HVTN 302, a project funded by NIH evaluating three experimental mRNA vaccines. Biopharma firm Moderna has developed these vaccines, each containing a distinct spike protein from the surface of the HIV. As more experiments like this are initiated, investments in mRNA research and genetic editing will likely increase, including partnerships among biotech firms and research institutes.

Furthermore, scientists are investigating the potential use of some of these HIV vaccines as a form of treatment. According to Deeks, a significant effort is underway to find a cure for HIV infection, as it can be difficult for some people to receive and maintain antiretroviral therapy for long periods. The goal is to train the immune system to combat the virus independently using these vaccines. 

Implications of vaccines for HIV

Wider implications of vaccines for HIV may include: 

• Reducing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, and people living with HIV may feel more comfortable disclosing their status.
• Lowered healthcare costs associated with treating HIV and related infections, and reduced burden of HIV on economies worldwide.
• More government policies and funding decisions related to HIV prevention and treatment. 
• Reduced spread of HIV in populations that are most at risk, including young people.
• New job opportunities in vaccine research and development, and in the manufacturing and distribution of the vaccine.
• A shift in the way people think and talk about HIV/AIDS, leading to changes in cultural practices related to HIV prevention.
• Reduced burden of HIV/AIDS on populations worldwide, particularly in developing countries where access to treatment is limited.
• National health institutes receiving more funding from biotech firms.

Questions to consider

• How is your country addressing HIV infections?
• How might biotech, governments, and research institutions work together to fast-track the development of an HIV vaccine?