A Phase I/II safety and immunogenicity study in 15 HIV-infected patients (CD4 counts > 350 ul/ml) has begun enrolment in the US. The first safety data are expected by the end of 2008, while the immunogenicity data will be available during the first half of 2009.
The MVA-BN HIV multiantigen vaccine encodes eight genes from HIV, including Nef and is said to represent a more advanced vaccine candidate compared to Bavarian Nordic’s previous MVA-based HIV vaccine candidates, MVA HIV nef and MVA-BN HIV polytope.
Anders Hedegaard, president & CEO of Bavarian Nordic, said: “Our expertise in HIV vaccine development has expedited the development of the multiantigen vaccine and it is exciting that we now again are in clinical development with an HIV vaccine candidate.”