Safety and Immunogenicity of HIVAX in HIV-1 Infected Subjects

This study is to test a therapeutic HIV-1 vaccine (HIVAX™) in HIV-1 infected subjects. The safety and immune responses will be studied in vaccine recipients. The anti-viral effect of HIVAX vaccine will be monitored during a 12-week treatment interruption phase.

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled dose-escalation clinical trial to evaluate the safety and the immunogenicity of two doses of a replication defective HIV-1 vaccine (HIVAX™) in subjects receiving stable highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) who have an HIV-1 RNA \<50 copies/ml and CD4 cell count \>500 cells/mm3. Following the randomized placebo-controlled vaccination phase subjects who received active vaccine and who meet eligibility will undergo a 12-week analytical antiretroviral treatment interruption followed by reinstitution of antiretroviral therapy (or continued interruption) with follow up through week 48.

Eligibility Criteria:
Part I (vaccination phase) Inclusion Criteria:

1. HIV-1 infection, as documented by any licensed ELISA test kit and confirmed by Western blot, at any time prior to study entry. HIV-1 culture, HIV-1 antigen, plasma HIV-1 RNA, or a second antibody test by a method other than ELISA is acceptable as an alternative confirmatory test.
2. On highly active antiretroviral therapy defined as the combination of at least three antiretroviral agents for at least 12 months prior to study entry.

   NOTE: A regimen that included only the combination of 3 NRTIs alone will not meet the study definition of a highly active antiretroviral therapy regimen. The combination of low dose ritonavir and another PI will be considered as one antiretroviral agent. Subjects cannot be on an NNRTI containing regimen at study entry.
3. Subjects must be on a stable regimen (no change in therapy) for at least 2 months prior to study entry.

   NOTE: A change in formulation or class for reasons other than virologic failure will be allowed but must have documented viral suppression (HIV RNA \<50 copies/ml) on at least two consecutive measurements at least two weeks apart.
4. Prior sustained response to antiretroviral therapy defined as an HIV-1 RNA \<50 copies/ml and a CD4 cell count \>500 cells/mm3 for twelve months prior to study entry documented on at least three measurements prior to study entry.

   NOTE: cannot have any confirmed HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/ml during the 12-months prior to study entry.
5. CD4 cell count \>500 cells/mm3 within 60 days prior to study entry at any laboratory that has a CLIA certification or its equivalent.
6. HIV-1 RNA \<50 copies/ml obtained within 30 days prior to study entry by any laboratory that has a CLIA certification or its equivalent.
7. Willingness to interrupt all antiretroviral therapy for at least 12 weeks following completion of vaccination phase (Part I).
8. Laboratory values obtained within 30 days prior to study entry.

   * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 750/mm3.
   * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.5 g/dL.
   * Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm3.
   * AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 x ULN.
   * Total bilirubin ≤ 2.5 x ULN.
   * PT \< 1.2 ULN and PTT \< 1.5 ULN NOTE: Asymptomatic subjects with total bilirubin ≥2.5 x ULN, receiving indinavir and/or atazanavir are eligible.
9. Negative pregnancy test within 14 days prior to study entry.
10. Willingness to use adequate contraception by study participants

    Subjects must agree not to participate in a conception process (e.g., active attempts to become pregnant or to impregnate, sperm donation, or in vitro fertilization), and if participating in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy, subjects must use a form of contraception as listed below while on study vaccine and for 60 days after stopping study vaccine.

    Women without reproductive potential (i.e., have reached menopause or undergone hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or tubal ligation) or women whose male partner has undergone successful vasectomy with documented azoospermia or has documented azoospermia for any other reason, are eligible without requiring the use of contraception.

    NOTE: Subject-reported history is acceptable documentation of sterilization (hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, tubal ligation, or vasectomy).

    As appropriate, at least one of the following methods must be used appropriately with or without a hormonal-based method during the study:
    * Condoms (male or female) with or without a spermicidal agent.
    * Diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicidal agent
    * IUD
11. Karnovsky performance score ≥ 90.
12. Men and women ≥ 18 years of age and \< 60 years of age.
13. Ability and willingness of subject to give written informed consent.

Part I (vaccination phase) Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active infection with schistosomiasis or Treponema pallidum (syphilis).
2. Seropositive for VSV-G antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or concurrent chronic active hepatitis C.
3. Autoimmune diseases or clinically serious cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal or neurologic disease, which in the opinion of the investigator will compromise ability to participate in the study.
4. Receipt of immune globulin or blood products within 90 days prior to study entry.
5. Receipt of any vaccinations within 30 days prior to study entry.
6. Previous receipt of any HIV vaccine. NOTE: Subjects who participated previously in an HIV vaccine trial who have documentation of receipt of only placebo may be eligible after discussion with the protocol chair.
7. Pregnancy and breast-feeding.
8. Prior systemic cancer chemotherapy,
9. Investigational agents and immunomodulators (cyclosporine, hematological growth factors, systemic corticosteroids, interleukins or interferons) within 90 days prior to study entry.

   NOTE: Subjects may be on antiretroviral agents not yet approved by the FDA as part of a clinical trial or expanded access program.
10. Anaphylaxis or allergy to vaccine components (See section 5.1.1).
11. Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
12. Serious illness requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization until subject either completes therapy or is clinically stable on therapy, in the opinion of the investigator, for at least 30 days prior to study entry.
13. History of any AIDS-defining illness. NOTE: Subjects whose sole AIDS-defining illness is Kaposi's sarcoma limited to the skin that is not anticipated to require systemic therapy may be eligible after discussion with the protocol chair.
14. Nadir CD4 cell count \<250 cell/mm3.
15. Changes in antiretroviral therapy for virologic failure prior to study entry.
16. Prisoners.

Part II (treatment interruption phase) Inclusion Criteria (Arm I and III only):

1. Receipt of three vaccinations . At the completion of the first 24 weeks of the study, potential eligible subjects for Part II will be unblinded, as to the receipt of active vaccine.

   NOTE: Subjects in Arm II and IV (vaccine placebo recipients) participation in the study will end with Part I.
2. Willingness to interrupt potent antiretroviral therapy for 12 weeks.
3. CD4 cell count \> 500 cells/mm3 within 14 days prior to antiretroviral treatment interruption.

Part II Exclusion Criteria:

1. Confirmed viral flare, defined as two consecutive plasma HIV-1 RNA \>5,000 copies/ml, during the immunization phase (Part I).
2. Development of any condition during the immunization phase that in the opinion of the investigator would place the subject at an increased risk for HIV viral rebound.