Johnson & Johnson’s Experimental HIV Vaccine Fails Mid-Stage in Africa

This morning, Johnson & Johnson announced that their HIV vaccine candidate failed to reduce the risk of infection in young women in sub-Saharan Africa.

The mid-stage results represent the latest setback to efforts to produce an HIV or human immunodeficiency virus vaccine, which has caused more than 37 million AIDS sufferers worldwide since 2020.

Anthony Fauci said, “Although this is certainly not the study outcome for which we had hoped, we must apply the knowledge learned from the Imbokodo trial and continue our efforts to find a vaccine that will be protective against HIV.”

Although effective therapies have been found that can remit the virus, scientists suggest that viral eradication requires an HIV vaccine.

The mid-stage J&J testing included 2,600 participating women in five South African countries, where more than 60% of all new HIV infections were women and girls last year.

Researchers discovered that 63 people who received the placebo and 51 people who received the J&J vaccine contracted HIV, giving the vaccine a 25.2% efficacy rate.

It was discovered that the vaccine was safe without significant consequences but will not proceed based on the efficacy results, said J&J.

The NIAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported the vaccine trial.

J&J stated that it studied the safety and effectiveness of another HIV vaccination for men who have sex with men and transgender people. The trial is scheduled for completion in March 2024 in America and Europe.