Safety of and Immune Response to a DNA HIV Vaccine (VRC-HIVDNA009-00-VP) in HIV Infected Individuals With Acute HIV Infection
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00125099 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: July 29, 2005
Last Update Posted
: May 18, 2012
|
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
HIV Infections | Biological: VRC-HIVDNA009-00-VP | Phase 1 Phase 2 |
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly improved mortality and morbidity rates associated with HIV and AIDS. However, many HIV-1 infected individuals are unable to access HAART. It is therefore important to develop a safe and effective therapeutic vaccine to improve immune control of viral replication and reduce the need for antiretroviral medication. This study will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the HIV-1 DNA vaccine VRC-HIVDNA009-00-VP in treating HIV-1 infected individuals who initiated antiretroviral therapy during acute infection. This study will involve a supervised treatment interruption (STI) in order to determine whether therapeutic vaccination results in improved immune control of viral replication.
Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to receive either the therapeutic vaccine or placebo in addition to their regular HAART regimens. During the first part of the study, participants will receive 4 vaccinations at Weeks 0, 4, 8 and 24. All individuals completing the therapeutic vaccination phase (defined as completing at least 3 immunizations, including the Week 24 immunization) will be given the opportunity to participate in the second part of the study and undergo a supervised discontinuation of HAART. At Week 30, these participants will discontinue all antiretroviral treatment and will be closely monitored. Participants will restart HAART if they experience a significant decline in their CD4 count, an increase in their viral loads, or if their physicians recommend they resume HAART. At Week 52, all other participants can restart HAART at the discretion of their primary physician.
21 study visits will occur over a period of 52 weeks. After Week 52, monthly study visits will occur through Week 72. Study visits will last approximately two hours and will include physical exams and blood and urine collection.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 21 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Safety and Immunogenicity of the HIV-1 DNA Vaccine VRC-HIVDNA009-00-VP (GAG-POL-NEF-MULTICLADE ENV) in HIV-1 Infected Subjects Treated During Acute HIV Infection |
Actual Study Completion Date : | September 2007 |

- Grade 3 or 4 sign/symptom, laboratory abnormality, or death that may be related to the vaccine
- 2 consecutive viral loads of 400 copies/ml or more while receiving HAART
- 2 consecutive absolute CD4 cell counts of 250 cells/mm3 or more while receiving HAART
- 2 consecutive CD4 cell counts more than 50% below the baseline CD4 cell count
- Tolerability (receipt of the full schedule of 4 vaccines)
- viral load setpoint: average of the log10 viral load measures at Weeks 18, 20, and 22 after HAART withdrawl (study Weeks 48, 50, and 52)
- Positive vaccine-elicited ELISPOT response as defined by a twofold increase from baseline that is also 100 or more spots/1,000,000 PBMCs
- Positive vaccine-elicited intracellular cytokine staining response as defined by a twofold increase from baseline AND 300 or more spots/1,000,000 PBMCs

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 50 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Treated acute HIV-1 infection (initiated HAART during the acute retroviral syndrome AND were diagnosed by a positive HIV-1 viral load and a negative or indeterminate Western blot)
- Minimum of 6 months of HAART, defined as 2 or more antiretroviral drugs in combination
- At least three CD4 cell counts over 350 cells/mm3 for a period of 6 months prior to study entry
- Screening CD4 cell count over 350 cells/mm3 within 30 days prior to study entry
- HIV-1 RNA levels over 50 copies/ml for a period of 6 months prior to study entry
- Screening HIV-1 RNA level less than 50 copies/ml within 30 days prior to study entry
- Agrees to use acceptable methods of contraception
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of serious adverse reactions to vaccines
- History of CD4 cell count less than 250 cells/mm3, opportunistic infections, or AIDS-defining illnesses. Patients who have had one CD4 count less than 250 cells/mm3 or who have had CD4 counts less than 250 cells/mm3 for not more than 2 weeks during acute infection are not excluded.
- History of autoimmune disease, immunodeficiency, asthma, diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycemics, thyroid disease, bleeding disorder, active malignancy, viral hepatitis, or asplenia
- Positive HBV, HCV, or syphilis test
- Suspected allergy or adverse reaction to any component of the study agent
- Changes in antiretroviral regimen within 6 months prior to entry due to virologic failure (not including toxicities)
- Previous participation in STIs
- Pregnancy or breast-feeding
- Live attenuated vaccines or investigational research agents within the 30 days prior to study entry
- Blood products within the 120 days prior to study entry
- Immunoglobulin within the 60 days prior to study entry
- Subunit or killed vaccines or allergy treatments with antigen injections within the 14 days prior to study entry
- Prior experimental HIV vaccines
- Certain immunosuppressive medications within the 6 months prior to study entry
- Current TB prophylaxis or therapy
- Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements
- Serious illness requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization. An individual who has either completed therapy OR is clinically stable for at least 14 days prior to study entry is eligible.
- Anti-dsDNA antibody greater than the upper limit of normal

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00125099
United States, California | |
Ucsd, Avrc Crs | |
San Diego, California, United States, 92103 | |
United States, Massachusetts | |
Massachusetts General Hospital ACTG CRS | |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114 | |
Brigham and Women's Hosp. ACTG CRS | |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115 | |
United States, New York | |
Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Ctr. AIEDRP | |
New York, New York, United States, 10021 | |
United States, Washington | |
UW Primary Infection Clinic CRS | |
Seattle, Washington, United States, 98104 |
Study Chair: | Dan H. Barouch, MD, PhD | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Viral Pathogenesis | |
Study Chair: | Eric S. Rosenberg, MD | Massachusetts General Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases |
Publications of Results:
Other Publications:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00125099 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
A5187 10010 ( Registry Identifier: DAIDS ES Registry Number ) ACTG A5187 |
First Posted: | July 29, 2005 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | May 18, 2012 |
Last Verified: | May 2012 |
Keywords provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):
Acute Infection Treatment Experienced Treatment Interruption HIV Therapeutic Vaccine |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Infection Communicable Diseases HIV Infections Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Lentivirus Infections Retroviridae Infections RNA Virus Infections Virus Diseases |
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral Sexually Transmitted Diseases Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Immune System Diseases Slow Virus Diseases Vaccines Immunologic Factors Physiological Effects of Drugs |