Moderna Begins Early-Stage Trials , of mRNA-Based HIV Vaccine.<br />On Jan. 27, Moderna revealed it administered the first doses to participants in its trial.<br />The HIV mRNA vaccine was co-developed with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.<br />It utilizes messenger RNA the same way Moderna's COVID vaccine does, "tricking" the body into producing proteins that prompt an immune response.<br />Specifically, Moderna hopes to induce B-cells, which can turn into antibodies.<br />Specifically, Moderna hopes to induce B-cells, which can turn into antibodies.<br />The company says such proteins are <br />“widely considered to be the goal of HIV vaccination, <br />and this is the first step in that process.”.<br />An initial shot and a booster dose <br />will be tested in the trial.<br />56 HIV-negative adult participants will be involved, <br />and they will be monitored for six months.<br />According to HIV.gov, about 1.2 million Americans currently have the virus
