Vaccine Proved Effective Against HIV (VXGN, OTC:VXGN)

HIV has been one of the most devastating viruses to ever hit mankind.  So far there have been no vaccines developed that have had much if any success rate in preventing the disease and its fatal consequence.  However that has all changed due to a study conducted in Thailand.  Preliminary results show that a combination of two vaccines are nearly 1/3 more effective than either vaccine alone.

The collaboraters of the study titled as RV144, include the Thai Ministry of Public Health, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the US Army, the National Institutes of Health, sanofi pasteur, and Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases.

Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases licensed one of the vaccines, AIDSVAX B/E, from  VaxGen, Inc. (OTC:VXGN)  based in the United States.

33 million people world wide are infected with HIV, of these 2 million are children.  About 3 million are newly infected every year.  This includes about 370,000 children.  HIV is now a disease of the mainstream population. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death in the United States of those between the ages of  25-44.

Of the 9.7 million people that desperately need treatment for HIV, only roughly one third are receiving it.

HIV, the name of the virus which if left untreated progresses to AIDS, enters the body through mucous membranes or blood to blood contact.   The virus begins to attack the immune system destroying healthy immune system cells, such as white blood cells and T cells.  There are 4 stages leading from the initial infection of HIV to AIDS.

1. First stage when the body begins producing antibodies against HIV. The period following infection is called the window. It is called this because it reflects the window of time between infection and that which antibodies are developed in a person. The HIV test looks for antibodies not the virus.

2.  Flu like symptons develop during the second stage called seroconversion.  HIV is very infectious during this stage.

3) No symptoms for a period of 6 months to 10 years.  Medical experts do not have an explanation why some people go symptom free for as long as 10 years while others only last 6 months.

4) The final stage is called AIDS. The immune system is unable to fight off any infection, or other diseases. This stage is defined when the TCELL levels drop below 200. AIDS is fatal.

The study released on September 24, 2009 shows there is hope to prevent HIV and therefore AIDS.