Two mRNA-based HIV vaccine candidates have demonstrated a potent immune response in early clinical trials, marking progress in HIV vaccine development. These vaccines encode membrane-anchored envelope trimers and have induced strong neutralizing antibodies and durable immune responses in both animal models and humans. In a phase 1 trial, approximately 80% of participants developed tier 2 neutralizing antibodies, indicating a robust B and T cell immunity. The vaccines were generally well-tolerated, although some tests reported unpleasant skin reactions. One of the vaccine candidates is associated with a Chinese-developed vaccine showing potential for long-term immune stimulation in a Phase IIa trial. The mRNA technology used in these HIV vaccines is the same innovative platform employed by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech for their COVID-19 vaccines, first commercialized in 2020.