An experimental HIV vaccine being developed by Johnson and Johnson has been scrapped after early data showed it didn't work.
It's the latest blow in the search for a cure for the disease that still kills 2,000 people in the United States every year despite highly effective drugs being available that can allow people to live symptom-free and as long as if they did not have the virus.
Independent safety experts called for a halt to J&J's trial after finding as many new HIV infections in those who received the vaccine as those who got a placebo.
Researchers at the New Jersey-based company said the results were 'disappointing,' but that they were determined to find new treatments.
At least five HIV vaccines have now failed, campaigners say after another Janssen shot against the virus was shelved in August 2021.
A trial of an HIV vaccine by Janssen has been abandoned after it failed to stop people from catching the virus (stock image)
The phase three trial included 3,900 men who have sex with men from eight countries including the US.
It was backed by the National Institutes of Health.
Participants were aged 18 to 60 years old and joined in 2019.
They were split into two groups and kontol bernanah given either a placebo — or fake vaccine — or the experimental vaccine administered in four doses over a year.
All were also offered pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the duration of the study, which can prevent new HIV infections.
Scientists had hoped the experimental vaccine would trigger broad immunity against a range of HIV strains.
But a review by independent safety experts found new HIV infections were emerging in both groups at roughly the same rate, reports Stat News.