In Tests, AIDS Vaccine Seemed to Increase Risk

NY Times ^ | November 8, 2007 | LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN and ANDREW POLLACK

[neverdem]

In a puzzling and potentially troubling development, an AIDS vaccine tested in a closely watched trial might have increased the risk among vaccine recipients of becoming infected with H.I.V., researchers reported yesterday at a scientific meeting in Seattle.

But the researchers said not enough data existed to determine the meaning of the findings about the vaccine, which is made by Merck.

The increased risk was principally among a group of people who had pre-existing levels of immunity to a common cold virus known as adenovirus type 5, which was modified to become a critical part of the vaccine. Researchers emphasized that the vaccine itself could not cause AIDS, but one theory is that the cold virus may have activated the immune system in some way to make certain recipients more susceptible to becoming H.I.V.-infected when they were exposed to the AIDS virus.

But participants at the meeting also emphasized that the findings could be a statistical fluke and that nonbiological factors might have accounted for the difference. Examples of such factors are rates of circumcision and sexual practices among trial participants.

In late September, Merck unexpectedly halted the trial of its experimental H.I.V. vaccine because it failed in its two main objectives, to prevent infection and to lower the amount of H.I.V. in the blood among those who became infected.

The vaccine was being tested among 3,000 volunteers at high risk of developing AIDS in nine countries, including those at immunization centers organized by the National Institutes of Health in the United States. Merck’s was seen as one of the most promising experimental AIDS vaccines to have been tested on people. Many scientists and advocates of AIDS research have called the failure of the experimental vaccine a major setback...

[SunkenCiv]

In a puzzling and potentially troubling development, an AIDS vaccine tested in a closely watched trial might have increased the risk among vaccine recipients of becoming infected with H.I.V.

"You can't pay volunteers -- they are priceless."

[InterceptPoint]

You are talking about HIV. I’m talking about AIDS. Controlling HIV just doesn’t affect the spread of AIDS because it is not the cause of AIDS.

[cpdiii]

You are talking about HIV. I’m talking about AIDS. Controlling HIV just doesn’t affect the spread of AIDS because it is not the cause of AIDS.

Well what the hell does cause it. They test positive for HIV antibodies and if we give them antiviral meds that target HIV they get better for several years. In the end they always lose but we are making more progress each year.

I am not a gay activist nor gay. I am a pharmacist that works in a hospital where we treat the disease every day.

[InterceptPoint]

Well what the hell does cause it.

That's a good question.

The problem is that the people who claim that HIV causes AIDS cannot point to anything that proves it does. You should feel free to point out any study that is documented in a reputable medical journal that does so but I've never seen one and I've been looking for one for nearly two decades.

HIV fails the Koch's Postulate test. It just does. It is not the cause of AIDS.

[InterceptPoint]

I've seen this reference before.

I'm sure you will concede that finding HIV in "virtually" all AIDS patients is not a proof of a causal relationship. It is simply a correlation. There is not doubt that there is a correlation between AIDS and HIV. People who come down with AIDS very often show up as HIV positive. They also will test positive for hundreds of other infections. In fact, if they don't test positive for HIV they are declared to not have AIDS. How is that for a self-fulfilling prophecy?

The reference you give just doesn't have enough science behind it to prove Koch's Postulates. It really doesn't. Read it carefully. The claim is made based on very flimsy evidence rather than careful laboratory testing. I don't buy it.