Zimbabwe Leads Africa’s First Human Trial of T-Cell HIV Vaccine

original article https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/zimbabwe-leads-africas-first-human-trial-of-t-cell-hiv-vaccine/

Zimbabwe has launched Africa’s first human trial of a T-cell HIV vaccine, marking a major step in the continent’s efforts to strengthen the immune system’s response to the virus.

The African-led study will test whether the vaccine is safe and capable of prompting an immune response in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative adults. The trial is being conducted at Mutala Trust’s Infectious Disease Research Laboratory in Harare, in partnership with other African and global collaborators.

Mutala Trust Executive Director, Professor Tariro Makadzange, explained that the vaccine targets specific parts of the virus that are structurally or functionally constrained and less able to mutate. “Part of the problem with HIV has been the amount of mutation that occurs in the virus, making it difficult to make an HIV vaccine. So the idea behind this one is targeting key regions in the virus,” she said.

According to Professor Makadzange, the long-term goal is to develop a vaccine that not only prevents HIV but also helps people already living with the virus to better control their infection. “We also want to develop a vaccine that induces immune responses in people living with HIV so that we can redirect their immune response and better control HIV infection,” she said.

Mutala Trust Medical Officer, Dr Constantine Mutata, said eight participants have already been enrolled across the three African sites — one in Zimbabwe and two in South Africa. “For this HIV vaccine trial, the target is to enrol 120 participants. So far, we have enrolled eight participants, and the age groups are from 18 to 50. We are enrolling both people who are living with HIV and those living without HIV. We are going to be following these participants up for about 19 months, and results will take longer because there will be time for analysis,” he explained.

Dr Mutata added that the local research teams have the expertise and facilities to conduct the trial effectively. “We do have the capacity, and people who are experienced enough to do the research and laboratory testing,” he said.

With this being the first Phase 1 HIV vaccine trial led by African scientists, questions have been raised about whether participants are being used as “guinea pigs.” Professor Makadzange dismissed such concerns. “It is tragic that people say that because in reality, only 2% of clinical trials happen in Africa. We are about 20% of the world’s population, and only 2% of trials happen here. If we, as Africans, are not driving the science, then we are waiting for Americans and Europeans to develop vaccines and therapies for us,” she said.

She stressed that the trial is being led and designed by Zimbabwean scientists. “This is a nice example of science for Africans by Africans. The reality is that we are not the guinea pigs — we are the ones developing the science and the innovation,” she said.

The HIV vaccine trial represents not only a scientific advancement but also a milestone in Zimbabwe’s leadership in health research, aiming to strengthen Africa’s role in developing solutions for its own health challenges.