Safety and Effectiveness of an HIV DNA Vaccine Followed by an HIV Adenoviral Vector Vaccine for Prevention of HIV Infection in the Americas and Africa

A Phase IIB Test-of-Concept, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, International Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Immunogenicity of a Multiclade HIV-1 DNA Plasmid Vaccine, VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP, Followed by a Multiclade Recombinant Adenoviral Vector Vaccine, VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP, in HIV Uninfected Persons

The development of a safe and effective vaccine is the best strategy for preventing the spread of HIV-1. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of and immune responses to an HIV vaccine regimen in healthy adults at risk for HIV infection.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: HIV Infections
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP; Biological: VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP; Biological: VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP placebo; Biological: VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP placebo

Detailed Description

The number of people infected by HIV-1 worldwide continues to increase. However, antiretroviral therapy is largely unavailable in low- and middle- income countries where risk of infection is very high. The development of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent HIV infection is urgently needed. This study will evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and immunogenicity of an experimental multiclade HIV vaccine, VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP, followed by an adenovirus-vectored vaccine boost, VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP, in HIV uninfected adults. Both vaccines code for proteins from HIV subtypes A, B, and C, which together represent 75% to 85% of new HIV infections in the world. Adenoviral type 5-based vaccines have improved induction of HIV-specific CD8 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte cell responses, which correlate with lower HIV burden (viral load) and slower disease progression in primates and in HIV-1 infected people whose disease does not progress over the long term. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of and immune response to a series of multiclade DNA vaccine injections followed by a booster injection of a multiclade adenovirus vaccine against HIV-1 infection in healthy adults at risk for HIV infection in North and South America, the Caribbean, and Africa.

This study will last from about 3 years to 5 years, because the length of the study depends on how quickly people enroll and how quickly during the study new HIV-1 infections occur. Study participants will be randomly assigned to receive a total of three injections of the DNA vaccine VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP followed by one injection of the adenovirus vaccine VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP, for a total of four injections of vaccine or four injections of placebo. Injections will occur at study entry and Weeks 4, 8, and 24. Prior to the study injections, participants will have their vital signs and weight measured, and blood collection will occur. Participants will be observed in the clinic for at least 30 minutes after each injection for immediate reactions to the vaccines. At all injection visits, HIV risk-reduction counseling, HIV risk assessment, pregnancy prevention counseling, and training on how to use memory cards will also occur. For 3 to 7 days after each injection, participants will be asked to record information about injection site pain, redness, size, swelling, temperature, general well-being, and headaches on their memory cards. Additional study visits will occur on Weeks 1, 12, 28, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144. At these visits, physical examinations, blood collection, and social impact questionnaires may also be done. Any study participants who become infected with HIV while on the study will be monitored for at least 72 weeks after diagnosis or at least 12 weeks after the study reaches its primary evaluation time point (whichever is longer). The study investigators are committed to providing access to local standard of care and treatment to those study participants who are found to be HIV-1 infected.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Phase 2

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• At risk for HIV-1 sexual exposure within 24 weeks prior to study entry. More information about this criterion is available in the protocol.
• HIV uninfected within 6 weeks prior to study entry
• Willing to undergo HIV testing and counseling
• Willing to receive HIV test results
• Willing to use highly reliable method for contraception for at least the first 6 months of study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participation in a clinical trial of another investigational product within 12 weeks prior to study entry
• Contraindication to intramuscular injections, history of bleeding disorder, or use of anticoagulant therapy in the 4 weeks prior to study entry
• Previously received an investigational HIV vaccine
• History of severe local or systemic reactogenicity to vaccines or severe allergic reactions or recurrent rash for unknown reasons in the 5 years prior to study entry
• Received an inactivated vaccine within the 2 weeks prior to study entry or of live attenuated within 4 weeks of study entry
• Received any blood products or any immunomodulatory agents within 12 weeks of study entry
• History of cancer. Participants with a history of localized squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma of the skin are not excluded.
• History of clinically significant autoimmune disease or immune deficiency syndrome
• Use of immunosuppressive medications within 24 weeks of study entry. Participants who have completed a short course of steroids more than 2 weeks prior to study entry, or using inhaled or topical steroids are not excluded.
• Seizure disorder. Participants who have had seizures with fever under the age of 2, seizures secondary to alcohol withdrawal more than 3 years prior to study entry, or a singular seizure more than 3 years ago that has not recurred or required treatment within the last 3 years are not excluded.
• Any medical condition or acute medical illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the study
• Pregnancy, plan to become pregnant, or breastfeeding

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1; Participants will receive a total of three injections of the DNA vaccine VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP followed by one injection of the adenovirus vaccine VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP. Injections will occur at study entry and Weeks 4, 8, and 24.	Biological: VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP; DNA vaccine administered intramuscularly; Biological: VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP; Adenovirus vaccine administered intramuscularly
Placebo Comparator: 2; Participants will receive a total of three injections of the DNA vaccine VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP placebo followed by one injection of the adenovirus vaccine VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP placebo. Injections will occur at study entry and Weeks 4, 8, and 24.	Biological: VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP placebo; DNA vaccine placebo administered intramuscularly; Biological: VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP placebo; Adenovirus vaccine placebo administered intramuscularly

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Acquisition of HIV infection, reduction in viral load in those who become infected, and adverse events (AEs)	At 26 weeks or later from study entry and from first study injection for AEs
Seroconversion with HIV RNA or HIV DNA detection, average of two viral load measurements, and AEs graded on the DAIDS AE Grading Table	Early after diagnosis of HIV infection and throughout the study for AEs

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Collaborators: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; International AIDS Vaccine Initiative; US Military HIV Research Program; HIV Vaccine Trials Network; Vaccine Research Center
• Investigators: Study Chair: Scott M. Hammer, MD, Columbia University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Esparza J, Osmanov S. HIV vaccines: a global perspective. Curr Mol Med. 2003 May;3(3):183-93. doi: 10.2174/1566524033479825.
• Gaschen B, Taylor J, Yusim K, Foley B, Gao F, Lang D, Novitsky V, Haynes B, Hahn BH, Bhattacharya T, Korber B. Diversity considerations in HIV-1 vaccine selection. Science. 2002 Jun 28;296(5577):2354-60. doi: 10.1126/science.1070441.
• Johnston MI, Fauci AS. An HIV vaccine--evolving concepts. N Engl J Med. 2007 May 17;356(20):2073-81. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra066267. No abstract available.
• Stratov I, DeRose R, Purcell DF, Kent SJ. Vaccines and vaccine strategies against HIV. Curr Drug Targets. 2004 Jan;5(1):71-88. doi: 10.2174/1389450043490686.

Study record dates

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 5, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 5, 2007
• First Posted (Estimate): July 9, 2007

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 1, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 28, 2021
• Last Verified: October 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: HIV Seronegativity; HIV Preventive Vaccine
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Immune System Diseases; Slow Virus Diseases; HIV Infections; Infections; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: PAVE 100; 10500 (Other Identifier: CTEP)