Phase I Study of HIV Adenoviral Vector Vaccine in Healthy Subjects Using Needle or Biojector Injection
Condition: HIV Infections
MeSH terms: HIV Infections
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 1

Summary: 
      This study will compare the immune response and side effects of an experimental HIV vaccine
      given by two different methods of administration by needle injection or by use of a
      needle-free device called the Biojector 2000 (Registered Trademark). The vaccine, called
      VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP, or rAd5, is made using an adenovirus that has been modified to contain
      DNA that codes for three HIV proteins. It cannot cause HIV or adenoviral infections.

      Healthy volunteers who are not infected with the HIV virus may be eligible for this study.
      Subjects are recruited for two study groups: Group 1 comprises volunteers who are 18 to 50
      years old and have never received an HIV vaccine and Group 2 comprises volunteers who are 18
      to 55 years old and participated in a prior study in which they received at least one
      injection of the study rAd5 vaccine.

      Subjects in both groups are randomly assigned to receive the vaccine by needle or Biojector
      2000 (Registered Trademark) into a muscle in the upper arm. They call a study nurse 2 days
      after the injection, record their temperature and symptoms on a diary card at home for 5 days
      after the injection for later review, and visit the clinic two weeks after the injection for
      a checkup.

      The injection is given on the day of enrollment. Additional visits are scheduled at weeks 2,
      4, 12 and 24, when subjects are checked for health changes or problems, their use of
      medications and how they are feeling. Blood samples are collected at all clinic visits.
      Subjects are tested for HIV at the beginning and end of the study, are asked about their
      sexual behavior and drug use, and are counseled about HIV risk reduction. Women are tested
      for pregnancy at the beginning and end of the study.

      Participants in Group 2 may undergo apheresis at the 4-week visit. This procedure is done to
      collect white blood cells for tests to examine the immune response to the vaccine. Blood is
      collected through a needle in the vein of one arm and directed through a machine that
      separates the cell components. The white cells are removed and the rest of the blood is
      returned through the same needle.

      Subjects are asked about any social effects they may have experienced from participating in
      the study. These effects are monitored to make sure participants receive any needed
      assistance and to learn ways to prevent these problems in the future.
    

Detailed description: 
      Study Design:

      VRC 015 will examine safety, tolerability and immune response to the VRC recombinant
      adenoviral vector serotype 5 vector vaccine, VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP (rAd5), in uninfected
      subjects who will be randomized to receive the injection either by needle or Biojector
      injection. The study will include enrollment of rAd5 vaccine-naive subjects, as well as
      enrollment of rollover subjects who received at least one rAd5 injection in a prior study
      that included the rAd5 vaccine. The hypothesis is that the rAd5 vaccine will be safe and
      immunogenic when administered by either needle or Biojector. The primary objectives are to
      evaluate the safety and tolerability of the rAd5 vaccine at 10(10) PU dosage in the naive and
      previously vaccinated, uninfected subjects when administered by needle or Biojectors. The
      secondary objectives include evaluating the HIV-1-specific humoral and T-cell immune
      responses and adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) antibody responses, and social impacts of
      participation in an HIV vaccine study. Exploratory evaluations include epitope mapping and
      other immunogenicity evaluations.

      Product Description:

      The VRC HIV rAd5 vaccine is a recombinant product composed of 4 adenoviral vectors (in a
      3:1:1:1 ratio) that encode the HIV-1 Gag/Pol polyprotein from clade B and HIV-1 Env
      glycoproteins from clades A, B, and C, respectively.

      Subjects:

      Group 1 will include healthy adults, ages 18-50 years old who are HIV vaccine-naive. Group 2
      will include healthy adults, ages 18-55 years old, who are rollover enrollments from a prior
      study of the VRC HIV rAd5 vaccine.

      Study Plan:

      Study Group 1 and Group 2 will be simultaneously enrolled. Both groups will be randomized in
      1:1 ratio to receive the study injection by needle or Biojector. All study injections will be
      at a dosage of 10(10) particle units (PU) of rAd5 vaccine delivered into deltoid muscle.

      There are more than 100 past study participants who are potentially eligible for Group 2. The
      study design is based on at least 10 rollover subjects, but allows for additional rollover
      enrollment of up to 10 more (i.e., Group 2 total n=20) if there is greater than expected
      interest in participation. The sample for immunogenicity studies collected at Week 4 after
      vaccination from Group 2 subjects will be obtained by apheresis from those who are willing
      and eligible for apheresis; otherwise peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) will be
      obtained from 80 mL blood collected by phlebotomy.

      Study Duration:

      Subjects will be evaluated at 5 or more clinical visits for 24 weeks after the study
      injection and then followed by annual clinic telephone or mail contact for the subsequent 4
      years.
    

Intervention name(s): VRC-HIVADV014-00-VP
Intervention type(s): Drug
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: HIV Negative; Healthy; Immunity; Preventive; Virus; Healthy Volunteer; HV