Safety of and Immune Response to an HIV-1 Vaccine (VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP) and a Vaccine Booster (VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP) in HIV Uninfected East African Adults

Phase 1

Completed

Conditions: HIV Infections

Interventions: Biological: VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP
Biological: VRC-DILUENT013-DIL-VP
Biological: VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP
Biological: VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP placebo

Registration Number: NCT00123968

Lead Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Brief Summary: The purpose of the study is to determine the safety of and immune response to an investigational HIV vaccine, VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP, and a vaccine booster, VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP, in HIV uninfected adults from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Detailed Description: The worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic may only be controlled through development of a safe and effective vaccine that will prevent HIV infection. This study will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of an experimental adenovirus-vectored multiclade HIV vaccine, VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP, followed with or without a similarly structured DNA plasmid HIV vaccine, VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP. The DNA in both vaccines codes for proteins from HIV subtypes A, B, and C, which together represent 90% of new HIV infections in the world. HIV uninfected volunteers will be recruited in the East African nations of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

This study will comprise two parts, 1 and 2. Part 1 will enroll 144 participants who will be randomly assigned to one of four different groups:

* Group 1A participants will receive a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at study entry.

* Group 1B participants will receive a higher dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at study entry.

* Group 1C will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.

* Group 1D will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a higher dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.

Enrollment into Part 2 (Groups 2A and 2B) will begin after the completion of the safety data evaluation of Groups 3 and 4 and after Part A has been fully enrolled. Group 2A participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.

There will be 11 study visits over 14 to 16 months for Parts 1 and 2. All study visits will include a physical exam, medical and medication history, vital signs measurement, lymph node assessment, HIV and pregnancy counseling, and blood and urine collection. A home visit will also occur at study entry. A 3-day diary card to report side effects will be completed by participants at study entry and on Days 28, 56, 168, and 210.

There will be 14 study visits for Groups 3, 4, and 5; these visits will include the same tests and assessments as for Groups 1 and 2.

As per an amendment (dated December 19, 2005), follow-up for this study will be extended. The purpose for this extension is to examine in greater depth the efficacy of the vaccine. Specifically, investigators will be exploring whether there is a persistent immune response in participants who received the vaccine as well as if new or boosted responses to the adenovirus vaccine are persistent. The extended follow-up will last for 2 years with clinic visits every 4 months. During visits blood will be drawn for laboratory tests, including HIV testing. Participants will also be informed of ways to reduce their risk of contracting HIV. Two weeks after each visit, participants will be asked to come to the study site for a short post HIV test counseling visit. There will be a total of 6 visits per year, 3 follow-up visits, and 3 post HIV test counseling visits. There will be no more vaccinations.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 326

Inclusion Criteria

Good general health
Willing to follow all the requirements of the study and available for follow-up for the duration of the study (14 to 16 months)
Able and willing to provide informed consent
Willing to undergo HIV testing and counseling and willing to receive HIV test results
Willing to not engage in high-risk behavior for HIV infection during the study
Willing to provide location and be visited at home
Willing to be identified with picture identification for study purposes
Willing to use acceptable forms of contraception
Pregnant women and those with conditions which render phlebotomy volumes hazardous will be allowed to participate using a minimized phlebotomy schedule

Exclusion Criteria

HIV or HBV infection
HIV vaccines in prior HIV vaccine trial
Immunosuppressive or cytotoxic medications within the 6 months prior to study entry. Participants who have used corticosteroid nasal spray for allergic rhinitis or topical corticosteroids for acute uncomplicated dermatitis are not excluded.
Blood products within 120 days prior to study entry
Immunoglobulin within 60 days prior to study entry
Live attenuated vaccines within 30 days prior to first study vaccine administration
Medically indicated subunit or killed vaccines or allergy treatment with antigen injections within 14 days prior to first study vaccine administration
Investigational research agents within 30 days prior to first study vaccine administration
Current tuberculosis prophylaxis or therapy
Participated in high-risk behavior for HIV infection within 6 months prior to study entry. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
Serious adverse reactions to vaccines, such as anaphylaxis, hives, respiratory difficulty, angioedema, or abdominal pain
Autoimmune disease or immunodeficiency
Unstable asthma or asthma requiring emergent or urgent care, hospitalization, intubation, or oral or intravenous corticosteroids during the 2 years prior to study entry
Diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2. Patients with gestational diabetes are not excluded.
Thyroid disease, including removal of thyroid or disease requiring medication within 3 years prior to study entry
Serious angioedema within 3 years prior to study entry or disease requiring medication within 2 years prior to study entry
Uncontrolled hypertension
Bleeding disorder
Active syphilis
Active cancer OR treated cancer that may recur during the duration of the study
Seizure disorder. Participants who have had fever-related seizures prior to age 2 are not excluded.
Absence of spleen OR partial or complete lack of splenic function
Psychiatric condition that may interfere with the study, including past or present psychoses, bipolar disorder, or suicidal attempts
Any medical, psychiatric, or social condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the study
Any occupational or other responsibility that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the study
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant
Any occupational or other responsibility that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the study
Incapacitating illness precluding clinic visits
Unable to provide informed consent
Prisoners will not be enrolled while incarcerated and if enrolled prior to incarceration, will not be followed while in confinement. Re-consent will not be required upon release from prison.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1B	VRC-DILUENT013-DIL-VP	Participants will receive a higher dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at study entry
1D	VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a higher dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.
1A	VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP	Participants will receive a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at study entry
1C	VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.
1C	VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.
1C	VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP placebo	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.
1A	VRC-DILUENT013-DIL-VP	Participants will receive a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at study entry
1B	VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP	Participants will receive a higher dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at study entry
2A	VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine at Day 168.
1D	VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP placebo	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a higher dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.
2A	VRC-DILUENT013-DIL-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine at Day 168.
1C	VRC-DILUENT013-DIL-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.
1D	VRC-DILUENT013-DIL-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a higher dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.
2B	VRC-DILUENT013-DIL-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive a the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine placebo at Day 168.
1D	VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine or placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive either a higher dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine or placebo at Day 168.
2A	VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive a low dose of the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine at Day 168.
2B	VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP placebo	Participants will receive the DNA plasmid vaccine placebo at study entry and Days 28 and 56. They will also receive a the adenovirus-vectored HIV vaccine placebo at Day 168.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Laboratory measures of safety	Throughout study
CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to HIV-1, as measured by flow cytometry-based intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay	At Day 196
Local reactogenicity signs and symptoms	Throughout study
Systemic reactogenicity signs and symptoms	Throughout study
Adverse and serious adverse experiences	Throughout study
Unfractionated IFN-gamma ELISPOT responses to HIV-1	At Day 196

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method

Trial Locations

Locations (3): Kenya Med. Research Inst./Walter Reed Project, Clinical Research Centre, Off Hospital Road. Kericho
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Kericho, Kenya
National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) - Mbeya Medical Research Center (MMRC) CRS
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Mbeya, Tanzania
Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP)
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Kampala, Uganda