Safety and Effectiveness of HIV-1 DNA Plasmid Vaccine and HIV-1 Recombinant Adenoviral Vector Vaccine in HIV-Uninfected, Circumcised Men and Male-to-Female (MTF) Transgender Persons Who Have Sex With Men

Phase 2b, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Test-of-Concept Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of a Multiclade HIV-1 DNA Plasmid Vaccine Followed by a Multiclade HIV-1 Recombinant Adenoviral Vector Vaccine in HIV-Uninfected, Adenovirus Type 5 Neutralizing Antibody Negative, Circumcised Men and Male-to-Female (MTF) Transgender Persons, Who Have Sex With Men

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of a VRC DNA/rAd5 vaccine regimen in healthy, circumcised men and male-to-female (MTF) transgender persons who have sex with men.

NOTES:

As of April 2013, all vaccinations in this study have been stopped.

As of June 2017, this study has been closed.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: HIV Infections
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: DNA plasmid vaccine; Biological: Recombinant adenoviral serotype 5 (rAD5) vector vaccine; Biological: DNA vaccine placebo; Biological: HIV-1 recombinant adenovirus vaccine placebo

Detailed Description

In 2007, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimated that 33.2 million people were living with HIV/AIDS globally. The U.S. HIV prevalence data reported in October 2008 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1.1 million adults and adolescents were living with diagnosed or undiagnosed HIV infection in the United States at the end of 2006. Nearly half of all U.S. HIV infections (48.1%) were found in men who have sex with men (MSM). Given the difficulty of maintaining behaviors that prevent HIV transmission over a lifetime and the occurrence of nonconsensual sex, the need for a safe and effective vaccine is clear. The primary purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of a VRC DNA/rAd5 vaccine regimen in healthy, at-risk, circumcised men and MTF transgender persons who have sex with men.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arms. Participants in Arm 1 will receive a recombinant DNA plasmid vaccine injection at study entry and on Days 28 and 56, followed by a recombinant adenoviral serotype vector vaccine injection on Day 168. Participants in Arm 2 will receive placebo injections at study entry and on Days 28, 56, and 168.

Participants who do not become HIV infected will be actively followed for a minimum of 24 months and will continue to be followed by the study for long-term safety surveillance for a total of 5 years following enrollment. Participants will be contacted annually during the period of long-term safety surveillance.

Participants who are found to be HIV infected prior to receiving their first injection or who receive their first injection but were HIV infected prior to study start will be followed on a modified schedule.

Participants who become HIV infected will be followed for 6 months post-diagnosis.

At most study visits, participants will undergo a physical exam and blood draw.

NOTES:

As of April 2013, all vaccinations in this study have been stopped. Participants have been notified of whether they received the study vaccines or placebo. Participants diagnosed with HIV infection will attend study visits for 6 months for health monitoring. Participants who are not diagnosed with HIV infection will attend planned study visits for 24 months and will be followed by the study clinic at least annually for a total of 5 years following study enrollment.

As of June 2017, this study has been closed. Therefore, to avoid further burden on study participants, further participant follow-up for the study is suspended.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 2504
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Alabama
    • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294
      • Alabama CRS
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90035
      • UCLA CARE Center CRS
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90015
      • The AIDS Research Alliance of America CRS
    • San Francisco, California, United States, 94143
      • Bridge HIV CRS
  • Colorado
    • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
      • University of Colorado Hospital CRS
  • Florida
    • Orlando, Florida, United States, 32803
      • Orlando Immunology Center CRS
  • Georgia
    • Decatur, Georgia, United States, 30030
      • The Hope Clinic of the Emory Vaccine Center CRS
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
      • UIC Project Wish CRS
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20816
      • VRC Clinical Trials Core CRS
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215-4302
      • Fenway Health (FH) CRS
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115-6110
      • Brigham and Women's Hospital Vaccine CRS (BWH VCRS)
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10065
      • New York Blood Center CRS
    • New York, New York, United States, 10016
      • NY Univ. HIV/AIDS CRS
    • New York, New York, United States, 10032-3732
      • Columbia P&S CRS
    • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
      • University of Rochester Vaccines to Prevent HIV Infection CRS
  • Ohio
    • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106
      • Case Clinical Research Site
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • Penn Prevention CRS
  • Tennessee
    • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232-2582
      • Vanderbilt Vaccine (VV) CRS
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75235
      • University of Texas Southwestern CRS
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Baylor Vaccine Research Center CRS
  • Virginia
    • Annandale, Virginia, United States, 22003
      • Care-Id Crs
  • Washington
    • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98109-1024
      • Seattle Vaccine and Prevention CRS

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• HIV-1 and -2 negative
• Good general health
• Fully circumcised

• Experienced one or both of the following HIV risk criteria in the 6 months before study entry:

  1. Unprotected anal intercourse with one or more male or MTF transgender partner(s)
  2. Anal intercourse with two or more male or MTF transgender partners
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 2.5 or less times the upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Ad5 neutralizing antibody (nAb) titer less than 1:18
• Have access to a participating study site and are willing to be followed during the study
• Demonstrate understanding of the study
• Willing to receive HIV test results
• Willing to discuss HIV infection risks and amenable to risk-reduction counseling
• Agrees not to enroll in another study of an investigational research agent before unblinding of this study
• NOTE: MTF transgender volunteers who have undergone gender reassignment surgery (GRS) are eligible to participate if they provide documentation from a health care provider confirming that they were fully circumcised prior to GRS. MTF transgender volunteers who have not undergone GRS are eligible to participate if they meet all enrollment criteria. Receipt of hormonal therapy does not make a transgender volunteer ineligible.

Exclusion Criteria:

• HIV vaccines in prior HIV vaccine trial. Participants who can provide documentation that they received a placebo in a prior HIV trial may be eligible.
• Used antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for the purpose of HIV-1 prophylaxis for greater than or equal to 50% of days during the 3 months prior to first vaccination or for 30 consecutive days within the 60 days prior to first vaccination
• Circumcised within 90 days prior to first vaccination or displays evidence that surgical site is not fully healed
• Immunosuppressive medications within 168 days prior to first study vaccination. Participants who have used corticosteroid nasal sprays for allergic rhinitis; topical corticosteroids for mild, uncomplicated dermatitis; or oral/parenteral corticosteroids for nonchronic conditions are not excluded.
• Blood products within 90 days prior to first study vaccination
• Immunoglobulin within 90 days prior to first study vaccination
• Live attenuated vaccines other than influenza vaccine within 30 days prior to first study vaccination
• Investigational research agents within 90 days prior to first study vaccination
• Influenza vaccine or any vaccines that are not live attenuated within 14 days prior to first study vaccination
• Allergy treatment with antigen injections within 30 days prior to first study vaccination or that are scheduled within 14 days after first vaccination
• Clinically significant medical condition, physical examination findings, abnormal laboratory results, or past medical history that, in the judgment of the investigator, has significant implications for current health
• Any medical, psychiatric, or job-related responsibility that would interfere with the study. More information about this criterion can be found in the protocol.
• Any concern that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with a participant's completion of the post-vaccination symptom log
• History of serious adverse reactions to vaccinations, including anaphylaxis or allergy to any of the vaccine's components
• Current anti-tuberculosis prophylaxis or therapy
• Autoimmune disease. People with mild, stable, and uncomplicated autoimmune disease that does not require immunosuppressive medication and that, in the judgment of the site investigator, is likely not subject to exacerbation and likely not to complicate reactogenicity and adverse event assessments are not excluded.
• Immunodeficiency
• Bleeding disorder
• History of malignancy
• Seizure disorder. People with a history of seizures who have had no seizures within the 3 years prior to study entry are not excluded.
• Asthma other than mild, well-controlled asthma
• Hereditary angioedema (HAE), acquired angioedema (AAE), or idiopathic angioedema

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 recombinant DNA plasmid vaccine injection at study entry and on Days 28 and 56, followed by a recombinant adenoviral serotype vector vaccine injection on Day 168. As of April 2013, all vaccinations in this study have been stopped.	Biological: DNA plasmid vaccine; 4-mg injection administered as 1 mL intramuscularly (IM) via Biojector® in either deltoid; Other Names: VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP; Biological: Recombinant adenoviral serotype 5 (rAD5) vector vaccine; 1 x 10^10 particle units (PU) administered as 1mL IM by needle and syringe in either deltoid; Other Names: VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP
Placebo Comparator: 2; Participants will receive a recombinant DNA plasmid vaccine placebo injection at study entry and on Days 28 and 56, followed by a recombinant adenoviral serotype vector vaccine placebo injection on Day 168. As of April 2013, all vaccinations in this study have been stopped.	Biological: DNA vaccine placebo; 1 mL IM via Biojector® in either deltoid; Other Names: phosphate buffered saline (PBS); VRC-PBSPLA043-00-VP; Biological: HIV-1 recombinant adenovirus vaccine placebo; 1 mL administered IM by needle and syringe in either deltoid; Other Names: VRC-DILUENT013-DIL-VP; final formulation buffer (FFB)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Participant Dropout Through Month 48	For participants remaining uninfected, dropout is assessed only for primary follow-up, i.e. clinic visits. Protocol versions 4 and earlier included 24 months of primary follow-up, and versions 5 and later included 48 months. Participants may terminate early after completing primary follow-up, and participants who were found to be HIV-1 infected are analyzed as non-dropouts, so the number of dropouts and number of early terminations need not match.	Enrollment through Month 48 visit
Participant Dropout Prior to Unblinding	The trial was unblinded on April 23, 2013, and the protocol was in version 4 at the time. For participants remaining uninfected, dropout is assessed only for primary follow-up, i.e. clinic visits. Protocol versions 4 and earlier included 24 months of primary follow-up, and versions 5 and later included 48 months. Participants may terminate early after completing primary follow-up, and participants who were found to be HIV-1 infected are analyzed as non-dropouts, so the number of dropouts and number of early terminations need not match.	Enrollment until the date of dropout, through April 22, 2013 (up to Month 24 visit)
Participant Dropout After Unblinding	The trial was unblinded on April 23, 2013, and the protocol was in version 4 at the time. For participants remaining uninfected, dropout is assessed only for primary follow-up, i.e. clinic visits. Protocol versions 4 and earlier included 24 months of primary follow-up, and versions 5 and later included 48 months. Participants may terminate early after completing primary follow-up, and participants who were found to be HIV-1 infected are analyzed as non-dropouts, so the number of dropouts and number of early terminations need not match.	April 23, 2013 through trial closure (up to Month 48 visit)
HIV-1 Infections Diagnosed After Day 0 Including All Available Follow-up Through the Maximum Month 48 Visit	For time-to-event analysis, an event is defined as HIV-1 infection and participants are censored if they dropped out early or completed the trial. HIV-1 diagnosis date is defined as the date of the earliest specimen collection yielding a positive HIV test. Participants remaining uninfected were censored at the latest specimen collection with a negative HIV-1 test.	Enrollment through Month 48 visit
HIV-1 Infections Diagnosed After Day 0 Through the Month 24 Visit	For time-to-event analysis, an event is defined as HIV-1 infection and participants remaining uninfected through the month 24 visit were censored. HIV-1 diagnosis date is defined as the date of the earliest specimen collection at or prior to month 24 which yielded a positive HIV test. Participants remaining uninfected through the month 24 visit were censored at the latest specimen collection with a negative HIV-1 test at or prior to the month 24 visit.	Enrollment through Month 24 visit
Number of Participants Experiencing Local Reactogenicity: Pain and/or Tenderness	For each sign or symptom, we define the maximum observed grade for each participant over all vaccinations and post-vaccination assessments. Local and systemic signs and symptoms are assessed and graded based on The Division of AIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events (DAIDS AE Grading Table), Version 1.0, December, 2004 (Clarification dated August 2009). Local reactogenicity parameters are pain, tenderness, erythema, and induration. We present the maximum grade for pain and/or tenderness, and erythema and/or induration.	Through 3 days post each study vaccination, and to resolution for events present at the third day post vaccination
Number of Participants Experiencing Local Reactogenicity: Erythema and/or Induration	For each sign or symptom, we define the maximum observed grade for each participant over all vaccinations and post-vaccination assessments. Local and systemic signs and symptoms are assessed and graded based on The Division of AIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events (DAIDS AE Grading Table), Version 1.0, December, 2004 (Clarification dated August 2009). Local reactogenicity parameters are pain, tenderness, erythema, and induration. We present the maximum grade for pain and/or tenderness, and erythema and/or induration.	Through 3 days post each study vaccination, and to resolution for events present at the third day post vaccination
Number of Participants Experiencing Systemic Reactogenicity	For each sign or symptom, we define the maximum observed grade for each participant over all vaccinations and post-vaccination assessments. Local and systemic signs and symptoms are assessed and graded based on The Division of AIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events (DAIDS AE Grading Table), Version 1.0, December, 2004 (Clarification dated August 2009). Systemic reactogenicity parameters are malaise/fatigue, myalgia, headache, nausea, vomiting, chills, and arthralgia. We present the maximum grade calculated over these parameters.	Through 3 days post each study vaccination, and to resolution for events present at the third day post vaccination

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Collaborators: HIV Vaccine Trials Network
• Investigators: Study Chair: Scott Hammer, Columbia University; Study Chair: Michael Yin, Columbia University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lu S. Immunogenicity of DNA vaccines in humans: it takes two to tango. Hum Vaccin. 2008 Nov-Dec;4(6):449-52. doi: 10.4161/hv.4.6.6179. Epub 2008 Nov 28.
• Patterson S, Papagatsias T, Benlahrech A. Use of adenovirus in vaccines for HIV. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2009;(188):275-93. doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-71029-5_13.
• Benmira S, Bhattacharya V, Schmid ML. An effective HIV vaccine: A combination of humoral and cellular immunity? Curr HIV Res. 2010 Sep;8(6):441-9. doi: 10.2174/157016210793499286.
• Hammer SM, Sobieszczyk ME, Janes H, Karuna ST, Mulligan MJ, Grove D, Koblin BA, Buchbinder SP, Keefer MC, Tomaras GD, Frahm N, Hural J, Anude C, Graham BS, Enama ME, Adams E, DeJesus E, Novak RM, Frank I, Bentley C, Ramirez S, Fu R, Koup RA, Mascola JR, Nabel GJ, Montefiori DC, Kublin J, McElrath MJ, Corey L, Gilbert PB; HVTN 505 Study Team. Efficacy trial of a DNA/rAd5 HIV-1 preventive vaccine. N Engl J Med. 2013 Nov 28;369(22):2083-92. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1310566. Epub 2013 Oct 7.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 6, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): October 6, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 17, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): March 19, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 15, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 13, 2021
• Last Verified: October 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: HIV Seronegativity; HIV Preventive Vaccine; Adenovirus; HIV Treatment Vaccine
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Immune System Diseases; HIV Infections; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Immunologic Factors; Vaccines
• Other Study ID Numbers: HVTN 505; 10753 (Registry Identifier: DAIDS ES)