EuroNeut41: Safety & Immunogenicity of Immunisations With HIV Vaccine

Objectives:

* To assess the safety of three priming immunisations by nasal route followed by two booster immunisations by intramuscular route
* To assess immunogenicity responses induced by the vaccine.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Women aged between 18 and 55 years on the day of screening
2. Available for a maximal study duration of 12/13 months from the inclusion
3. Willing and able to give written informed consent
4. At low risk of HIV infection and willing to remain so for the duration of the study defined as:

   * no history of injecting drug use in the previous ten years
   * no gonorrhoea or syphilis in the last six months
   * no high risk partner (e.g. injecting drug use, HIV positive partner) either currently or within the past six months
   * no unprotected anal intercourse in the last six months, outside a relationship with a regular partner known to be HIV negative
   * no unprotected vaginal intercourse in the last six months outside a relationship with a regular known HIV negative partner
   * not had unprotected sex with someone from a region where HIV is more common (e.g Sub-Saharan African, Caribbean, South East Asia) outside a relationship with a regular known HIV negative partner
5. Negative HIV 1/2 antibody/antigen test at screening
6. If heterosexually active female, using an effective method of contraception with partner (combined oral contraceptive pill; injectable or implanted contraceptive; use of condoms incorporating spermicide if using these; physiological or anatomical sterility) from 14 days prior to the first vaccination until 6 months after the last, and willing to undergo urine pregnancy tests prior to each vaccination and blood pregnancy test at screening and final follow up.
7. Agree, to abstain from medications or other agents that are applied via the nasal route from 24 hours prior to each nasal vaccine dosing through to the safety assessment 1week later
8. Agree to abstain from donating blood during their participation in the trial
9. Registered with GP and medical history available for 12 months before dosing
10. Satisfactory response received from General Practitioner relating to medical history before randomization.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant or lactating, or planning to get pregnant within the next year
2. Positive alcohol test
3. Positive drugs of abuse test
4. Clinically relevant abnormality on history or examination:

   * central nervous system disorder or disease, including
   * history of grand-mal epilepsy
   * cranial nerve palsies
   * severe eczema
   * severe epistaxis requiring surgical intervention or blood transfusion
   * clinically significant liver disease
   * clinically significant haematological, metabolic, gastrointestinal, renal, psychiatric or cardio-pulmonary disorders
   * ongoing infection;
   * autoimmune disease, immunodeficiency or use of immunosuppressive agents in preceding 3 months prior to dosing
   * using inhaled cortico-steroids and intranasal medications
5. Known or suspected history of clinically relevant nasal surgery, injury, nasal polyps or cleft palate, or a condition likely to require regular intranasal medication, which in the opinion of the investigator might interfere with intranasal vaccine administration
6. Known hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine formulations used in this trial or have severe or multiple allergies
7. History of severe local or general reaction to vaccination defined as

   * local: extensive, indurated redness and swelling involving most of the antero-lateral thigh or the major circumference of the arm, not resolving within 72 hours
   * general: fever \> 39.5°C within 48 hours; anaphylaxis; bronchospasm; laryngeal oedema; collapse; convulsions or encephalopathy within 72 hours
8. Receipt of live attenuated vaccine within 60 days or other vaccine within 14 days of scheduled study vaccine dosing
9. Receipt of an experimental vaccine containing HIV envelope proteins at any time in the past
10. Receipt of blood products or immunoglobin within 4 months of screening
11. Participation in another trial of a medicinal product, completed less than 90 days prior to Visit 2 and planned participation in another clinical trial during the present trial
12. HIV 1/2 antibody/antigen positive or indeterminate on screening
13. Positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody or serology indicating active syphilis requiring treatment
14. Clinically significant routine laboratory parameters.
15. Unable to read and speak English to a fluency level adequate for the full comprehension of procedures required in participation and consent.
16. Unlikely to comply with protocol
17. History of drug or alcohol abuse or regular using of drugs, or who test positive in drugs of abuse and alcohol test at screening or admission
18. Has a condition, or is on regular medication (other than paracetamol, multivitamin, E45, or over the counter remedies) which in the opinion of the investigator is not suitable for participation in the study
19. Any local vaginal, cervical or gynaecological condition which may interfere with collection or interpretation of data collected through vaginal samples.
20. Using any Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device; as there is a risk of dislodging, displacing or removing the device when pulling or removing Softcup used for vaginal sampling.
21. Clinically significant abnormality on ECG performed at the screening visit
22. Any condition that, in the investigator's opinion, compromises the volunteer's ability to meet protocol requirements or to complete the study.