"Prime-Boost" Vaccine Schedule for Prevention of HIV Infection

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2008-01-22

Summary

This study will determine the safety and side effects of two experimental HIV vaccines given in a "prime-boost" schedule. It will also monitor participants for the social impact of being in an HIV vaccine study (e.g., problems with insurance, health care, friends, family, employment, housing, and so forth). The vaccines are VRC-HIVDNA016-00-VP (called the DNA vaccine) and VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP (called the rAd vaccine). The DNA vaccine codes for four HIV proteins. The rAd vaccine is made using an adenovirus (a common virus that causes upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold) that has been modified to contain DNA that codes for three HIV proteins. These vaccines cannot cause HIV or adenoviral infections.

The study will also see if the vaccines cause an immune response; if the injection of the DNA vaccine given using a needle and syringe is similar in safety and immune response to giving them with a needleless injection device called a Biojector 2000; if people who already have antibodies to adenovirus still have an immune response to rAd vaccine; and if there are social harms that result from participating in an HIV vaccine study.

Healthy volunteers between 18 and 50 years of age may be eligible for this 42-week study. Candidates are screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood and urine tests (including pregnancy test for women), and questions regarding sexual behavior and other practices.

Participants receive three injections (shots) of the DNA vaccine and one injection of the rAd vaccine. All injections are given into a muscle in the upper arm (alternating right and left arms with each injection), using a needle and syringe or the needleless Biojector 2000. The first vaccination is given the day of enrollment into the study, and the DNA vaccinations are given about 4 weeks apart from each other, with a minimum of 21 days between injections. The rAd "booster"vaccination is given at Week 24. Participants fill out a diary card at home for 5 days after each vaccination, recording their temperature and any symptoms. They come to the clinic for follow-up 3 days each DNA vaccine injection, and call or return again 7 days after each injection. They call a study nurse 1 or 2 days after the rAd injection.

There are 15 to 18 clinic visits during the course of the study. At each visit, participants are checked for health changes or problems. Blood and urine samples are collected at some visits. Participants are periodically tested for HIV and asked questions about their sexual behavior and drug use and are counseled throughout the study on HIV risk reduction. They are also asked about any social effects they may have experienced as a result of their participation in this study.

• Phase: Phase 1

Details

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