AIDS Vaccine Failure
The failure in clinical trials of an AIDS Vaccine is still a mystery, or so it seems. The real question is how will it effect other vaccine testing? Will it slow down the process even more, or will it have no impact?
Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., announced on Sept. 21 that it was stopping the study because the vaccine didn’t work. It was a stunning setback in the push to develop an AIDS vaccine.
The vaccine is made from a common cold virus with three synthetic HIV genes tucked inside. It’s designed to stimulate the immune system to kill any HIV-infected cells encountered in the future. (source)
Seems that there are other questions that need answering, such as why did more of those getting the vaccine develop HIV than those who received a dummy vaccine shot? Kind of also makes you wonder if there isn’t a bit more to this whole ‘vaccine‘ testing.
Maybe I am just skeptical, but you wonder if perhaps the drug companies are slowing down on research for a cure, or vaccine, due to the hefty profits they make from the current treatment of AIDS and HIV? I mean think about it. They sell a lot of these ‘cocktails‘ and make a lot of money off them. If they develop a vaccine, those profits will dwindle, as people become more immune to the disease.
Might sound callous, but then again, it does seem that today there is more emphasis on profits, than on social responsibility. I mean, just look at the Toy Industry.
