The first patients were vaccinated as part of a clinical trial with an HIV vaccine using mRNA technology.

Moderna reported that the first patients were vaccinated as part of a clinical trial of an HIV vaccine using mRNA technology.

The vaccine test is part of the study called IAVI G002 and works by giving the body antigens specific for HIV to trigger an immune response. The study is conducted in cooperation with the scientific non-profit organization IAVI, which together with Scripps Research developed the tested antigen.

Last year's proof-of-concept study found that HIV antigens elicited the desired immune response in 97% of participants.

“We are extremely excited to be able to advance this new direction in HIV vaccine design with Moderna's mRNA platform. The search for an HIV vaccine has been long and difficult, and having new immunogen tools and platforms could hold the key to rapid progress towards an urgently needed, effective HIV vaccine, "said Mark Feinberg, president and CEO of IAVI, in a Moderna press release./p>

Study IAVI G002 will be conducted at four sites in 56 healthy, HIV-negative adult volunteers. Participants will be monitored for safety for six months after the last vaccination. Participants' immune responses will be carefully examined to see if the desired responses are achieved.