Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to infect about 15,000 people every day, 90% of whom live in non-industrialised countries. So far, education programmes have only managed to slow, but not cease, the HIV spread, while powerful drug combinations are too costly and complex for the majority of HIV-infected people and in any case fail to clear HIV from the body. Under these circumstances, the best hope for controlling the HIV pandemic is the development of an effective prophylactic vaccine. With a series of new technologies and increased political and financial commitments, a growing momentum in the field of HIV-vaccine development promises exciting years ahead.