AB&B BIO-TECH-B (02627) announced that in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has permitted the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the group's self-developed mRNA monkeypox vaccine candidate. Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family. This genus includes a wide range of viruses, such as vaccinia virus, variola virus, and mousepox virus. In preclinical studies, compared to the Tian Tan strain of smallpox attenuated live vaccine used in China, the company's mRNA monkeypox vaccine candidate induced significantly higher levels of monkeypox neutralizing antibodies and demonstrated broad-spectrum cross-reactivity against multiple orthopoxvirus antigens. Compared to internationally licensed replication-deficient monkeypox vaccines, the company's mRNA vaccine candidate showed superior immunogenicity, offering a more suitable option for immunocompromised individuals, such as those who are HIV-positive. It is the first mRNA monkeypox vaccine candidate in China and the third globally to receive an IND clearance from the FDA.