Moderna announces first trial participants have received the Trimer mRNA HIV vaccine

Moderna, a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company based in Massachusetts, have announced the launch of Phase I of clinical trials into their Trimer mRNA HIV vaccine (mRNA-1574). The first participants has now received their first dose of the mRNA-based vaccine.

With the launch of our second HIV vaccine trial, we are advancing our strategy to utilise multiple mRNA encoded native-like HIV trimers and leverage the power of our mRNA platform to accelerate the discovery of a protective HIV vaccine," said President of Moderna, Stephen Hoge, M.D.

This Phase I study (HVTN 302) is designed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine. It is expected that this vaccine will be well tolerated by humans, and that it will contribute to the production of protective neutralising antibodies.

Around 100 HIV-negative adults, aged 18-55, will take part in the study of mRNA-1574.

"We are optimistic that this study will pave the way for continued approaches for using mRNA in HIV” said Dr Larry Corey, Principal Investigator, HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Leadership Operations Center.

Moderna is currently developing two HIV vaccines. The launch of clinical trials into mRNA-1644 was announced at the end of January of this year. The trial has recruited 56 participants in the USA.