International HIV Vaccine Trials Discontinued

On September 18, 2007, the Data Safety Monitoring Board for the STEP HIV vaccine study reviewed interim trial data and concluded that the vaccine being tested could not be shown to prevent HIV infection or affect the course of the disease in people subsequently infected with HIV. All study sites have been instructed to stop administering the investigational vaccine. Patient follow-up visits will still occur as scheduled pending further analysis of the data.

More information about the STEP study and related topics is also available:

NIAID: Official STEP study discontinuation press release
NIAID: Questions and Answers about the STEP study
AIDSinfo: HIV Vaccines clinical trial search
AIDSinfo: Preventive and Therapeutic HIV Vaccines fact sheets

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Kaposi's Sarcoma Seen in Healthy Patients

Doctors in San Francisco recently reported the appearance of Kaposi's sarcoma in some HIV infected patients who are taking antiretrovirals and have a high CD4 count and low viral load. There is currently no explanation for this observation.

• MedlinePlus: Doctors See Return of Kaposi's Sarcoma in Handful of Patients
• AIDSinfo: Prevention of Opportunistic Infections Guidelines
• AIDSinfo: Treatment of Opportunistic Infections Guidelines

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