Mymetics identifies 'HIV-immune prostitutes'

US firm Mymetics has presented the results of a second series of preclinical trials that it says confirm the success of its preventive  vaccine against HIV and AIDS at the Conference on Retroviruses and  Opportunistic Infections, held in Montreal, Canada.

The firm claims to have identified people who are naturally resistant to  HIV/AIDS infection, particularly a group of prostitutes in Kenya and  Cambodia. These identified women have been monitored for the past 13  years and, despite exposure to multiple HIV-positive individuals, remain  HIV negative. The company believes that they are protected by antibodies  present in their vaginal secretions and that the same resistance has  been noted in males who have the same antibodies in their rectal  secretions. Mymetics has concentrated research towards developing  similar antibodies qualified as mucosal secretions as opposed to blood  antibodies.

Preclinical results obtained in July 2008 at the Institute of Animal  Laboratory Science of the Chinese Academy of Science, were verified by  the Center for Disease Control of Beijing. Based on the data, the firm  says the Belgian Health Ministry, acting on behalf of the European  Authority, has approved the commencement of clinical trials. In  addition, the firm has entered into a partnership with Chris Miller of  the US California Regional Primate Research Center to continue its  preclinical research.