https://www.them.us/story/hiv-aids-vaccine-human-trials-moderna Skip to main content Open Navigation Menu Them Moderna's HIV Vaccine Has Officially Begun Human Trials * Culture * Entertainment * News * Health * Style * Shop More * Sign Up Search * Culture * Entertainment * News * Health * Style * Shop Health Moderna's HIV Vaccine Has Officially Begun Human Trials We could be getting even closer to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. By Samantha Riedel January 28, 2022 * * * Image may contain Tray Heather Hazzan * * * Few people have been hit harder during the COVID-19 pandemic than those who are immunocompromised -- including people whose immune systems have been ravaged by HIV/AIDS. But that dark chapter of medical history may soon be drawing to a close. That's the hope in Washington, D.C., at least, where scientists with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and Moderna have announced that human trials for the company's experimental HIV vaccine have officially begun. Top view of sterile syringe and opened vial of liquid Injectable, Long-Acting PrEP Could Be Here As Soon as February The CDC's latest guidelines for PrEP could be a gamechanger in the fight against HIV. View Story "We are tremendously excited to be advancing this new direction in HIV vaccine design with Moderna's mRNA platform," said IAVI president and CEO Mark Feinberg in the announcement. "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." Human candidates, recruited for clinical trials last August, received the study's first shots on Thursday at George Washington University's School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The vaccine builds on technology developed by Moderna during their COVID-19 vaccine production, with the goal of using mRNA to boost HIV immunogens and prevent the virus from disabling B cells, which are essential to fighting disease. Although medicines like PrEP and antiretroviral therapy (ART) have proved somewhat effective in slowing the spread of HIV and reducing its mortality, the virus is still a threat to global health nearly forty years after it was first identified. Scientists hope to conclude human trials next year in 2023, coinciding with HIV's grim 40th anniversary. "We believe advancing this HIV vaccine program in partnership with IAVI and Scripps Research is an important step in our mission to deliver on the potential for mRNA to improve human health," said Moderna president Stephen Hoge. Only time will tell whether this vaccine will succeed where others have failed -- but we'll be praying, crossing our digits, and wishing on every star that by next year, LGBTQ+ communities around the globe will have a new reason to celebrate. Get the best of what's queer. Sign up for them.'s weekly newsletter here. TagsHIVAIDShealthcarePrEP Read More A box of the blood pressure and hormone replacement therapy medicine Spironolactone on display. News Anti-Vaxxers Are Taking Feminizing HRT to (Try to) Cure COVID That's one way to own the libs? By Samantha Riedel Man getting his blood drawn. News As Hospitals Face Blood Shortage, Senators Seek New Donor Rules for Gay and Bisexual Men Nearly two dozen lawmakers urged the FDA to update "its discriminatory blood donor deferral policies for men who have sex with men." By Mariel Padilla Modernas HIV Vaccine Has Officially Begun Human Trials News Trans People Face New Paperwork Hurdle in COVID-19 Vaccination Cards Trans and nonbinary people say that the documentation process made them feel like they weren't considered in the process. By Orion Rummler Rapper Dababy Celebrity Of Course DaBaby Ghosted HIV/AIDS Organizations After meeting with several groups in August, the rapper has reportedly ignored many of them. By Samantha Riedel Them them, a next-generation community platform, chronicles and celebrates the stories, people and voices that are emerging and inspiring all of us, ranging in topics from pop culture and style to politics and news, all through the lens of today's LGBTQ community. * * * Our Story * About them Contact * Contact Us * Careers * RSS Feeds * Site Map * Conde Nast Store * Conde Nast Spotlight * Do Not Sell My Personal Info (c) 2022 Conde Nast. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. them. may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Conde Nast. Ad Choices CN Living