COVID vaccine dropped after it showed false HIV results in Australia

Development of a COVID-19 vaccine in Australia was halted after clinical trial produced false positive HIV results among subjects involved in testing. As per country’s Health Minister Greg Hunt, developers of vaccines used a small amount of HIV protein as a “molecular clamp” which eventually triggered anti-body response. Citing reason for abandoning vaccine, he said that it could hinder in HIV screening of people who are iculated.

“ Phase 1 data also showed generation of antibodies directed towards fragments of a protein (gp41), which is a component used to stablise vaccine. Trial participants were fully informed of possibility of a partial immune response to this component, but it was unexpected that levels induced would interfere with certain HIV tests,” developers said in a statement.

'v451'

COVID-19 vaccine v451 was developed by University of Queensland and was still in its first phase of trials. " University of Queensland vaccine will t be able to proceed based on scientific vice, and that will longer feature as part of Australia's vaccine plan," PM Scott Morrison told reporters.

However, one of researchers, Professor Paul Young insisted that HIV protein used in vaccine was "completely harmless" and posed health risk to those who took part in trials.

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abandoning of University of Queensland vaccine candidate has w prompted country’s government to re-direct funds to securing doses of or COVID-19 vaccines such as that of Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca.

Earlier Health Minister, Greg Hunt has said that a potential COVID-19 vaccine could be available to all Australians in third quarter of 2021. Speaking at a press briefing, Hunt said that vaccine, which was being developed by University of Queensland was ahe of schedule and was “doing its job”.

"Biotech firm CSL has completed manufacturing of vaccine candidate to allow third st of clinical trials to begin. That is an extraordinary development…. It means that this vaccine will potentially be available, subject to results of those trials, for delivery to Australians early in third quarter of 2021,” he said.

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Im: AP