Moderna, a U.S. biotechnology company that develops messenger RNA drugs, will test two HIV mRNA vaccines in humans at once. Clinical trials will start before the end of 2021.
Two experimental vaccines, Moderna mRNA-1644 and mRNA-1644v2-Core, have passed phase I testing, according to a publication on the NIH-operated website ClinicalTrials.gov. The randomized trial, conducted for the first time in humans, will recruit about 56 adults between the ages of 18 and 50. Some of the volunteers are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. The study is expected to be completed around May 2023.
The mRNA-1644 vaccine test will use iterative human studies to assess the correct approach, as well as new antigens for immunofocusing. The second drug, mRNA-1574, contains more native trimeric antigens.
Vaccines based on matrix ribonucleic acid are based on a fundamentally new approach – mRNA preparations contain instructions for the cells of the human body, allowing them to produce certain proteins that provide an immune response.
Moderna has achieved strong results thanks to the success of its mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine, which is projected to sell about $ 20 billion this year. It has also recently begun phase I / II trials of its tetravalent mRNA mRNA-1010 candidate for a seasonal influenza vaccine.
th30be on August 13rd, 2021 at 14:55 UTC »
I work with someone that makes newborn screening materials for HIV and when we noticed that COVID can be transferred from mother to Child in a similar manner to HIV. My coworker said that this is a breakthrough. She has been working on this stuff for like 20 years. She was so freaking excited to hear about the COVID vaccine because it means it can be used in a similar manner to other mRNA viruses. Or at least that is what I understood.
This is great news.
ColdShowerThoughts on August 13rd, 2021 at 13:11 UTC »
As a gen-xer, I cannot tell you the fear we all had during the aids epidemic and what this means. I spent decades being told that HIV vaccines were not possible. This is incredible to me.
jwill602 on August 13rd, 2021 at 05:56 UTC »
I’m not sure how to say this in a way that isn’t depressing… but COVID really pushed mRNA vaccines forward so quickly. It probably would’ve taken us a 5-10 more years to get mRNA vaccines rolled out if it weren’t for the pandemic. And now way more places are willing to more forward with trials, whereas just a couple years ago it was still an emerging technology.