'Breakthrough' as vaccine cuts AIDS infection risk

BANGKOK: An experimental AIDS vaccine has for the first time cut the risk of infection in a medical "breakthrough", researchers said Thursday

after the world's largest ever HIV vaccine trial.

The announcement came after a joint US-Thai study that was sponsored by the US Army and conducted by the Thailand Ministry of Public Health.

"The vaccine has a 31.2% efficacy in reducing the risk of HIV infection," said a statement released by the researchers at a press conference in Bangkok.

"The outcome represents a breakthrough in HIV vaccine development because for the first time ever there is evidence that HIV vaccine has preventative efficacy.