Ending AIDS as a public health threat: The role of a vaccine in the era of long-acting PrEP

The HIV vaccine field has faced several recent setbacks with a lack of preventive efficacy leading to the early termination of the PrepVacc, Mosaico and Imbokodo trials. Alongside these setbacks, however, important scientific breakthroughs have established proof of principle that the immune system can be primed and directed on the pathway to the elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies through germline targeting. These promising results form the initial building blocks of an evidence-guided research and development strategy toward the goal of an HIV vaccine. Nonetheless, the road to an HIV vaccine will be long, requiring major investments and coordinated action. With long-acting HIV prevention options licensed or in the pipeline, some question whether the longer-term goal of an HIV vaccine should be prioritized and at what urgency. This session will bring together global experts and community stakeholders to tackle this question. Panelists will discuss emerging evidence and engage in lively debate on the potential need for and pathway to an HIV vaccine.