A Phase I Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of an mRNA Vaccine Against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) Post-Vaccination

Inclusion criteria

• Is a healthy male or female aged 18 to 55 years (inclusive) at the time of screening.
• Has provided written informed consent prior to performing any study-specific procedure.
• Is available and willing to comply with all study procedures for the entire duration of the study.
• For participants of childbearing potential: agrees to practice highly effective contraception for the required period and has no plans for reproduction or gamete donation.
• Provides consent for HSV-1/HSV-2 serology testing at screening.

Exclusion criteria

• Axillary temperature >37.0°C during screening and/or on the day of vaccination.
• History of clinically diagnosed genital herpes within 6 months prior to the first vaccination.
• Acute infectious disease or acute exacerbation of a chronic condition within 3 days prior to screening/vaccination.
• Positive blood pregnancy test at screening or currently breastfeeding (for female participants).
• History of severe allergic reactions requiring medical intervention (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema, Arthus reaction, allergic purpura), severe adverse reactions to previous vaccinations, or known hypersensitivity to any component of the investigational vaccine (e.g., lipid nanoparticles).
• Known or suspected malignancy, autoimmune disease, immunodeficiency, organ transplantation, or immunosuppression (e.g., HIV infection, systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], rheumatoid arthritis).
• Use of immunosuppressants or immunomodulators (e.g., systemic corticosteroids for >14 consecutive days) or cytotoxic therapy within 6 months prior to the first vaccination, or planned use during the study.
• Congenital anomalies or developmental disorders affecting organ function.
• History of cardiovascular diseases (e.g., myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, pericarditis, idiopathic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias), or any condition increasing the risk of myocarditis/pericarditis; QTcF >450 ms for males or >470 ms for females; or uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg despite medication).
• For HSV-1/HSV-2 seronegative participants: clinically significant abnormalities in hematology, blood biochemistry, coagulation, or urinalysis parameters at screening.
• For HSV-1/HSV-2 seropositive participants: hematology, blood biochemistry, coagulation, or urinalysis parameters ≥ Grade 1 per the study-specific toxicity grading scale and deemed clinically significant by the investigator.
• Contraindications to intramuscular injection (e.g., thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders).
• Medical conditions requiring intervention affecting the endocrine, hematologic, hepatic, renal, respiratory, metabolic, or skeletal systems.
• History of convulsions (excluding febrile seizures in childhood), epilepsy, encephalopathy, psychiatric disorders, or other neurological conditions; or family history of psychiatric disorders.
• Positive markers for HBV, HCV, HIV, or syphilis infection.
• Administration of blood products or immunoglobulins within 3 months prior to the first vaccination or planned use during the study.
• Treatment with anti-herpetic drugs (e.g., acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir, ganciclovir) for genital herpes within 6 months prior to the first vaccination.
• Receipt of live-attenuated vaccines within 14 days, or subunit/inactivated vaccines within 7 days prior to vaccination.
• Participation in another clinical trial (drug, device, or vaccine) within 3 months prior to the first vaccination or concurrent enrollment in any interventional study.
• Any other condition deemed by the investigator to compromise participant safety or interfere with study objectives.