A Phase I Safety and Immunogenicity Trial of the Facilitated HIV-1 Gag-Pol DNA Vaccine (APL-400-047, Apollon, Inc.) Given Intramuscularly by Needle and Syringe or Biojector 2000 Needle-Free Jet Injection System in HIV-1 Uninfected Adult Volunteers

DNA-based immunization mimics live-attenuated virus vaccination by stimulation of both the humoral and cellular arms of the immune system; thus, potentially providing the advantages of a live virus vaccination but without the potential risks. It is essential that novel vaccine strategies (including DNA-based immunizations) continue to be developed and enter Phase I human testing because to date, no candidate vaccine from any of the approximately 30 AVEG Phase I or II trials has progressed to a Phase III efficacy trial. Use of a Biojector jet gun for vaccine delivery may also have potential psychological, comfort, safety and immunologic advantages over the traditional needle and syringe method of delivery.

A total of 40 volunteers receive four immunizations each (at months 0, 1, 2 and 6) as follows:

10 volunteers are enrolled at the 100 microgram dose given intramuscularly (IM) by needle and syringe. If this dose appears safe and well tolerated through Day 14, 20 more volunteers are enrolled at the 300 microgram dose; 10 receiving vaccine administered by needle and syringe, 10 receiving vaccine administered by Biojector. If the 300 microgram dose appears safe and well tolerated through Day 14 in the 10 volunteers who receive intramuscular (IM) injections with needle and syringe, an additional group of volunteers are enrolled at the 1000 microgram dose given with needle and syringe. NOTE: Within each group of 10 volunteers, 8 receive APL-400-047, 2 receive control preparation (bupivacaine carrier alone). [AS PER AMENDMENT 07/98: An additional group of 12 volunteers will be treated at a dose of 3000 micrograms administered by needle and syringe. Ten of these volunteers will receive APL-400-047 formulated with bupivacaine as a facilitating agent; the remaining 2 patients will receive control preparation (bupivacaine carrier alone).] [AS PER AMENDMENT 4/27/99: Volunteers previously primed with either 300 or 1000 micrograms of the APL-400-047 vaccine receive an additional dose of DNA (or control, for control volunteers in the original protocol) followed one month later by two monthly canarypox (or placebo for control volunteers in the original protocol) boosts.]