The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has suspended a clinical trial on an HIV vaccine called HVTN 505. The clinical trial involved 2,500 participants and early data showed that those who received the vaccine were slightly more likely to contract HIV than those who had a placebo.
The NIAID confirmed the news in an official statement saying that they found a "non-statistically significant increase in HIV acquisition among volunteers in the investigational vaccine group compared to those in the placebo group," NIAID said in a statement.
The trial was based at New York's Columbia University and lead researcher said Dr. Scott Hammer explained:
"This is quite a substantial disappointment. We've learned from every clinical efficacy trial we've done. We've had good and bad news, but each one takes us a little closer in terms of what to pursue and not to pursue."
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