HIV vaccine study using mRNA technology starts in the US

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

The rapid development of vaccines against COVID-19 led many people to question whether similar investment could have achieved an effective HIV vaccine.

One response emphasised that decades of HIV research were actually enabling faster treatments for COVID-19. Another reported that mRNA technology behind the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines might now be transferrable back to efforts against HIV.

On 14 March 2022, the US NIH issued a press statement about the launch of a phase 1 study of three experimental HIV vaccine based on mRNA technology. [1]

The HVTN 302 study will look at safety and immune responses in up to 108 adult participants in ten US cities. The three candidate vaccines are: (i) BG505 MD39.3 mRNA, (ii) BG505 MD39.3 gp151 mRNA, and (iii) BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO mRNA. 

This research programme was first announced by Moderna in January 2021. [2]

References

1. NIH launches clinical trial of three mRNA HIV vaccines: phase 1 study is among first to examine mRNA technology for HIV. (14 March 2022).
   https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-launches-clinical-trial-three-mrna-hiv-vaccines
2. Moderna PR. Moderna provides business update and announces three new development programs in infectious disease vaccines. (11 January 2021).
   https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2021/Moderna-Provides-Business-Update-and-Announces-Three-New-Development-Programs-in-Infectious-Disease-Vaccines-01-11-2021/default.aspx

This report was first published on 16 March 2022.