First group of participants in clinical trial of HIV experimental vaccine given first dose

(KYMA, KECY/ CNN) — The first round of participants for the Phase 1 clinical trial of an experimental HIV vaccine using Moderna mRNA antigens have been vaccinated.

Biotechnology company, Moderna and IAVI, a nonprofit scientific research organization have teamed up to distribute the clinical trial at George Washington's University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.

Both companies are assessing a trial vaccine, IAVI G002, that distributes HIV-related antigens to the body with an ultimate goal of immune feedback.

Research and the work behind developing the antigens was led by Dr. William Schief, Ph. D., professor at Scripps Research and executive director of vaccine design at IAVI's Neutralizing Antibody Center with the help of researchers at IAVI and Scripps Research.

A prototype trial conducted by the research team last year showed how the HIV antigens created the necessary immune response in 97% of participants.

IAVI G002 utilized last year's prototype to build upon, creating a booster version using Moderna's mRNA technology.

"We are tremendously excited to be advancing this new direction in HIV vaccine design with Moderna's mRNA platform. The search for an HIV vaccine has been long and challenging, and having new tools in terms of immunogens and platforms could be the key to making rapid progress toward an urgently needed, effective HIV vaccine," said Mark Feinberg, M.D., Ph. D., president and CEO of IAVI. "We are grateful to all of our partners and especially the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for funding this trial."

This new trial will study 56 HIV-negative adult persons with the goal of studying both safety and efficiency.

48 of the participants will receive at least one dose of the vaccine, 32 will be getting the booster and the final eight will receive the booster alone.

There are four locations in which participants are in trial:

• George Washington University School of Medicine

• Hope Clinic of Emory Vaccine Center

• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio