New trial of HIV vaccine in gay men begins

AIDS researchers have begun recruiting gay men in various American cities for a new HIV vaccine trial they are hopeful will be more successful than a previous vaccine trial that was abruptly aborted in 2007 for fear it was increasing some participants’ risk of contracting the virus.

The new study, known as the HVTN 505 Study, will examine if the new vaccine can decrease the viral load of those people who become infected with HIV. While it may also help prevent HIV infections, researchers will be closely monitoring participants to see if they do become HIV-positive what impact the vaccine may have on the onset of their illness.