LOS ANGLES, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A trial of a preventive HIV vaccine candidate has begun enrollment in the United States and South Africa, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The Phase 1 trial will evaluate a novel vaccine known as VIR-1388 for its safety and ability to induce an HIV-specific immune response in people, the NIH said in a release.
VIR-1388 is designed to instruct the immune system to produce T cells that can recognize HIV and signal an immune response to prevent the virus from establishing chronic infection.
The trial, funded by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is taking place at six sites in the United States and four in South Africa and will enroll 95 HIV-negative participants.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four study arms: three arms will each receive a different dose of the vaccine, and one will receive a placebo.
Initial results are expected in late 2024, and an optional long-term sub-study will continue to follow volunteers for up to three years after their first vaccine dose, according to the NIH.
