GeoVax Labs has announced the launch of a Phase IIa human trial for its two-part preventive vaccine candidate that aims to first prime the body to recognize three key HIV proteins'gag, pol, and env'and then boost the immune system's CD4-cell and antibody attacks against them. The trial will include a total of 225 volunteers at 13 sites throughout the Americas. In addition to the preventive vaccine, GeoVax is working toward initiating human clinical trials testing vaccine candidates as therapies for HIVers to reduce the need for antiretrovirals. Animal studies have shown the candidates significantly suppressed the simian version of the virus in infected monkeys.
