VRC-AVIDNA036-00-VP

VRC-AVIDNA036-00-VP is a recombinant DNA plasmid vaccine developed to encode the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the influenza virus H5 subtype. It is designed as a DNA vaccine, meaning it uses a closed-circular plasmid containing the gene for H5 HA, which upon administration leads to in vivo expression of the antigen and induction of an immune response. The primary mechanism is to elicit both antibody and T cell responses against the H5 protein, aiming for protection against avian influenza strains with pandemic potential. Clinical studies have shown that this vaccine is immunogenic and well-tolerated when administered intramuscularly or intradermally using needle-free injection systems or standard needle/syringe methods[1][3][4][5]. The developer is the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), with manufacturing performed at their Vaccine Pilot Plant operated by SAIC[1].