AIDSVAX

AIDSVAX was an experimental HIV vaccine, which was developed and trialed by the VaxGen company. The development and trials of the vaccine received significant coverage in the media, but the trials eventually proved unsuccessful.

AIDSVAX consisted of recombinant gp120, which is a protein unique to HIV's surface. The hope was that six injections of the gp120 protein would stimulate a significant antibody response against the HIV protein, so that when a person was exposed to HIV, their own antibodies would strip the gp120 protein off of the viral particles, effectively disabling the virus so that it could not bind to or invade susceptible cells.

However, the vaccine did not raise particularly high levels of anti-gp120 antibodies in most people, and it was ineffective at preventing infections.