(Image Source: The Vancouver Sun)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

Scientists in Canada are the first in the country to have an HIV vaccine advance to clinical trials. The first trial will test the vaccine’s safety, not effectiveness, and involves 40 HIV-positive volunteers. But, what’s the vaccine’s chance of success?

The CBC says -- be wary.

“So far the two dozen clinical trials started around the world over the past decade have all been unsuccessful.
“Experts caution vaccines that show promise in lab animals don’t always pan out in clinical trials.”
DR. MYRON COHEN: “The monkeys don’t always tell the truth for humans.”

But The Barrie Examiner spoke with the executive director of the AIDS Committee in Canada’s Simcoe County, who called the news a “ray of hope.”

“‘The vaccine has already shown promise in boosting the immune system and has shown a stimulating strong immune response in early testing. This is very encouraging in terms of what other vaccines have attempted and failed in the past."

Either way, when will we know? After this Phase 1 trial, the vaccine will have to go through two more trials. Phase 3 would involve thousands of participants. The Times Colonist explains the timeline.

"It should take about six months to complete Phase 1 tests and a year to evaluate results. …  It could be about five years before the vaccine goes on the market … ”