2011-02-23 16:14

NEW DELHI - India's apex body for the promotion of biomedical research said Wednesday the HIV vaccine has undergone the first phase of clinical trial and no side effects are found.

"The first phase of clinical trial for the HIV vaccine being produced in India has already been accomplished in December 2010. No side effects have been found," the chief of Indian Council of Medical Research Dr. V.M. Katoch told the media in the national capital.

He added: "We are hopeful about this vaccine as it works on the most common strain of virus found in India. There is no haste in carrying out the trials. We want to make this vaccine being devloped here effective."

India is among the top countries having the highest incidence of HIV infection worldwide.

"We have nearly three million people in India already affected by HIV," he said.