A Combination Efficacy Study in Africa of Two DNA-MVA-Env Protein or DNA-Env Protein HIV-1 Vaccine Regimens With PrEP

NCT ID: NCT04066881

Last Updated: 2025-01-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

1512 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-12-15

Study Completion Date

2024-12-31

Brief Summary

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This international, multi-centre, double-blind vaccine study is a three-arm prospective 1:1:1 randomisation comparing each of two experimental combination vaccine regimens i.e. DNA/AIDSVAX (weeks 0,4,24,48) and DNA/CN54gp140 (weeks 0,4) + MVA/CN54gp140 (weeks 24,48) with placebo control. There will be a concurrent open-label 1:1 randomisation to compare daily TAF/FTC (week 0-26) to daily TDF/FTC (weeks 0-26) as pre-exposure prophylaxis.

The study aims to randomise up to 1668 eligible adults (18-40 years) through collaborating clinical research centres in 4 countries (Mozambique; South Africa; Tanzania; and Uganda). Each participant will be followed for a minimum of 74 weeks after enrolment.

The trial is designed to detect a reduction in HIV incidence that has public health relevance sufficient to justify implementation of the combination vaccine regimen. In light of the high level of effectiveness demonstrated in the PrEP trials (up to 86% reduction in HIV), this trial is powered to detect a protective vaccine efficacy of 70% at the final analysis.

The PrEP component will determine whether the effectiveness of TAF/FTC is unacceptably lower than the effectiveness of TDF/FTC.

Detailed Description

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This international, multi-centre, double-blind vaccine study will be a three-arm prospective 1:1:1 randomisation comparing each of two experimental combination vaccine regimens with placebo control.

Pre-screening for risk and HIV status will take place as part of a Registration Cohort which will precede and continue in parallel to the PrEPVacc trial enrolments. This will give HIV negative volunteers time to learn about the PrEPVacc trial and facilitate timely enrolment.

Clinical screening for the vaccine trial will take place during the 8 weeks prior to randomisation from local communities in Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda where the clinical research centres are located. Eligible participants who are HIV-uninfected adults aged 18-40 years at high risk of HIV infection will be enrolled at week 0 and randomised to one of three vaccine arms:

1. Vaccine group A: DNA-HIV-PT123 and AIDSVAX® B/E (weeks 0,4,24,48)
2. Vaccine group B: DNA-HIV-PT123 and CN54gp140 in MPLA-L (wks 0,4), then MVA-CMDR and CN54gp140 in MPLA-L (wks 24,48)
3. Vaccine group C: Saline Placebo (wks 0,4,24,48)

There will be a concurrent open-label 1:1 randomisation to one of two PrEP regimens:

1. Control PrEP: Daily TDF/FTC (week 0-26)
2. Experimental PrEP: Daily TAF/FTC (week 0-26)

Participants will be randomised at each clinical centre through web randomisation after entering the quantifiable eligibility criteria. Randomisation will be stratified by centre and by gender for vaccines and for PrEP. Clinic staff and participants will be blind to allocation of active or placebo vaccines, but the pharmacist preparing the vaccines will know. As the volume of gp140 in MPLA-L is 0.4ml and given at the same timepoints as products with a volume of 1ml, clinic staff will be able to identify participants allocated to the CN54gp140 in MPLA-L or matched placebo.

Clinic staff and participants will know which PrEP agent each participant is allocated to. Participants will continue to receive study PrEP through to week 26 after which access to PrEP will revert to local supply of generic drug.

The target accrual is around 1668 HIV uninfected adults, but this is an endpoint driven multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS) trial design, and therefore the target may be adjusted following a recommendation from the IDMC. In addition, participants who do not complete the third immunisation will be replaced whilst this is feasible. Participants will be followed up for a minimum of 74 weeks after enrolment.

The primary efficacy outcome measure for the vaccine analysis is HIV acquisition by a participant who completed three immunisations and was HIV negative at week 26.

The primary efficacy outcome for the PrEP analysis is HIV acquisition at or before week 26 by a participant who was HIV negative at enrolment.

The primary safety outcome for both analyses is a clinical decision to discontinue the vaccine or PrEP regimen for an adverse event that is considered related to product.

This trial is designed to detect a reduction in HIV incidence that has public health relevance sufficient to justify implementation of the combination vaccine regimen. In light of the high level of effectiveness demonstrated in the PrEP trials (up to 86% reduction in HIV), this trial is powered to detect a protective vaccine efficacy of 70% at the final analysis.

The PrEP component of the trial aims to show the effectiveness of TAF/FTC is not unacceptably lower than the effectiveness of TDF/FTC, assessed from the observed lower confidence limit for the Averted Infections Ratio (AIR).

The Independent Data Monitoring Committee will review an interim analysis of vaccine efficacy in order to determine whether each active vaccine arm has demonstrated sufficient efficacy to warrant further investigation. This analysis will only consider new infections arising after the week 26 visit and only those in individuals who have completed the first three immunisations. The analysis will take place after approximately 7 of these infections have occurred in the placebo group. The investigators will not be informed of the timing of the interim analysis, unless there is a recommendation to modify the protocol.

The PrEP analysis will consider new infections up to the week 26 visit in individuals who were HIV negative at enrolment.

To enhance understanding of the trial results within their broader context, indepth interviews and group discussions with trial participants, as well as structured debriefs with study staff, will be conducted throughout the trial (week 0-74). These activities will examine risk and adherenvce behaviours, along with knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of participants, study staff and wider community.

Conditions

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HIV Infections

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Group A: DNA-HIV-PT123/AIDSVAX B/E®/TDF/FTC (Truvada) once daily (wks 0-26) Group B: DNA-HIV-PT123 and CN54gp140+MPLA-L (wks 0,4), then MVA-CMDR and CN54gp140+MPLA-L/ TDF/FTC(Truvada) once daily (wks 0-26) Group C: Saline placebo (wks 0,4,24,48)/ TDF/FTC (Truvada) once daily (wks 0-26) Group D: DNA-HIV-PT123/AIDSVAX B/E®/ TAF/FTC (Descovy) once daily (wks 0-26) Group E: DNA-HIV-PT123 and CN54gp140+MPLA-L (wks 0,4), then MVA-CMDR and CN54gp140+MPLA-L/ TAF/FTC (Descovy) once daily (wks 0-26) Group F: Saline placebo (wks 0,4,24,48)/ TAF/FTC (Descovy) once daily (wks 0-26)

Group G: Saline placebo (wks 0,4,24,48)/ TAF/FTC (Descovy) once daily (wks 0-26)
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors
The vaccine component of PrEPVacc is placebo-controlled. Study staff, participants, laboratory staff and clinical staff assessing safety outcomes will not know who has been allocated vaccine or placebo, but pharmacy staff will know. The committee assessing the efficacy endpoints will not see the allocation in the first instance. The IDMC and statistical staff preparing the closed reports for the IDMC will also know the allocation.

Clinic staff will see the difference in volume between CN54gp140 in MPLA-L/matched placebo (0.4ml) and DNA-HIV-PT123/matched placebo (1ml) due to the position of the plunger, but they will not be able to differentiate between active and placebo.

The randomisation to control PrEP: experimental PrEP is 1:1 and all study staff and participants will know the allocation after randomisation as this is open-label.

Study Groups

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Group A

278 participants will receive DNA-HIV-PT123 vaccine and AIDSVAX® B/E protein at weeks 0, 4, 24 and 48.

1ml of DNA-HIV-PT123 will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the left upper arm

1ml of AIDSVAX® B/E will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the right arm

1 tab of Truvada (0-26 weeks)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Vaccine Group A: DNA-HIV-PT123 and AIDSVAX® B/E (weeks 0,4,24,48)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

1. DNA-HIV-PT123 HIV vaccine includes three DNA plasmids that encode clade C ZM96 Gag, clade C ZM96 Env, and CN54 Pol-Nef.
2. AIDSVAX® B/E is a bivalent HIV gp120 glycoprotein encompassing both subtype B (MN) and subtype E (A244) proteins that are adsorbed onto 600mcg of aluminum hydroxide gel suspension as adjuvant.

Control PrEP:TDF/FTC once daily (weeks 0-26)

Intervention Type DRUG

Each tablet of Truvada contains 245mg of tenofovir disoproxil (TDF) and 200mg of emtricitabine (FTC), both of which are nucleot/side analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Group B

278 participants will receive DNA-HIV-PT123 and CN54gp140+MPLA-L at weeks 0 and 4, then MVA and CN54gp140+MPLA-L at weeks 24 and 48

1ml of DNA-HIV-PT123 will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the left upper arm

1ml (1x108 pfu) of MVA will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the left upper arm

0.4mL containing a mixture of 100mcg CN54gp140 and 5mcg MPLA-L will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the right upper arm

1 tab of Truvada (0-26 weeks)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Vaccine Group B: DNA-HIV-PT123 and CN54gp140+MPLA-L (weeks 0,4), then MVA and CN54gp140+MPLA-L (weeks 24,48)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

1. DNA-HIV-PT123 (see above)
2. CN54gp140+MPLA-L. Recombinant CN54gp140 is a HIV-1 envelope protein from the clade C strain 97/CN/54 isolate, which comprises a sequence of 634 amino acids. MPLA is a non-toxic version of LipoPolySaccharide (LPS), which is isolated from the LPS lipid A region of Salmonella Minnesota R595 and retains the immune-stimulatory properties of LPS, but exhibits low toxicity.
3. MVA-CMDR (Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Chiang Mai Double Recombinant) is a non-replicating, highly attenuated strain of Vaccina virus that has been genetically engineered to express the HIV-1 genes envgp160 CM235 Subtype E and gag and pol CM240 Subtype A (integrase-deleted and reverse transcriptase non-functional).

Control PrEP:TDF/FTC once daily (weeks 0-26)

Intervention Type DRUG

Each tablet of Truvada contains 245mg of tenofovir disoproxil (TDF) and 200mg of emtricitabine (FTC), both of which are nucleot/side analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Group C:

278 participants will receive Sodium Chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline) placebo at weeks 0,4,24, and 48

The volume will be matched to the vaccine at 1ml for DNA, MVA and AIDSVAX® B/E, but 0.4ml for CN54gp140 in MPLA-L. Participants will be randomly divided in a 1:1 ratio to receive 1ml in each arm at the four timepoints or 1ml in the left arm and 0.4ml in the right arm at the four timepoints.

1 tab of Truvada (0-26 weeks)

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Vaccine Group C: Saline placebo (weeks 0,4,24,48)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Sodium Chloride (NaCl) for injection, 0.9%

Control PrEP:TDF/FTC once daily (weeks 0-26)

Intervention Type DRUG

Each tablet of Truvada contains 245mg of tenofovir disoproxil (TDF) and 200mg of emtricitabine (FTC), both of which are nucleot/side analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Group D

278 participants will receive DNA-HIV-PT123 vaccine and AIDSVAX® B/E protein at weeks 0, 4, 24 and 48.

1ml of DNA-HIV-PT123 will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the left upper arm

1ml of AIDSVAX® B/E will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the right arm

1 tab of Descovy (0-26 weeks)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Vaccine Group A: DNA-HIV-PT123 and AIDSVAX® B/E (weeks 0,4,24,48)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

1. DNA-HIV-PT123 HIV vaccine includes three DNA plasmids that encode clade C ZM96 Gag, clade C ZM96 Env, and CN54 Pol-Nef.
2. AIDSVAX® B/E is a bivalent HIV gp120 glycoprotein encompassing both subtype B (MN) and subtype E (A244) proteins that are adsorbed onto 600mcg of aluminum hydroxide gel suspension as adjuvant.

Experimental PrEP:TAF/FTC once daily (weeks 0-26)

Intervention Type DRUG

Each tablet of Descovy contains 25mg of tenofovir alfenamide (TAF) and 200mg of emtricitabine (FTC), both of which are nucleot/side analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Group E

278 participants will receive DNA-HIV-PT123 and CN54gp140+MPLA-L at weeks 0 and 4, then MVA and CN54gp140+MPLA-L at weeks 24 and 48

1ml of DNA-HIV-PT123 will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the left upper arm

1ml (1x108 pfu) of MVA will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the left upper arm

0.4mL containing a mixture of 100mcg CN54gp140 and 5mcg MPLA-L will be injected into the deltoid muscle of the right upper arm

1 tab of Descovy (0-26 weeks)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Vaccine Group B: DNA-HIV-PT123 and CN54gp140+MPLA-L (weeks 0,4), then MVA and CN54gp140+MPLA-L (weeks 24,48)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

1. DNA-HIV-PT123 (see above)
2. CN54gp140+MPLA-L. Recombinant CN54gp140 is a HIV-1 envelope protein from the clade C strain 97/CN/54 isolate, which comprises a sequence of 634 amino acids. MPLA is a non-toxic version of LipoPolySaccharide (LPS), which is isolated from the LPS lipid A region of Salmonella Minnesota R595 and retains the immune-stimulatory properties of LPS, but exhibits low toxicity.
3. MVA-CMDR (Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Chiang Mai Double Recombinant) is a non-replicating, highly attenuated strain of Vaccina virus that has been genetically engineered to express the HIV-1 genes envgp160 CM235 Subtype E and gag and pol CM240 Subtype A (integrase-deleted and reverse transcriptase non-functional).

Experimental PrEP:TAF/FTC once daily (weeks 0-26)

Intervention Type DRUG

Each tablet of Descovy contains 25mg of tenofovir alfenamide (TAF) and 200mg of emtricitabine (FTC), both of which are nucleot/side analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Group G

278 participants will receive Sodium Chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline) placebo at weeks 0,4,24, and 48

The volume will be matched to the vaccine at 1ml for DNA, MVA and AIDSVAX® B/E, but 0.4ml for CN54gp140 in MPLA-L. Participants will be randomly divided in a 1:1 ratio to receive 1ml in each arm at the four timepoints or 1ml in the left arm and 0.4ml in the right arm at the four timepoints.

1 tab of Descovy (0-26 weeks)

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Vaccine Group C: Saline placebo (weeks 0,4,24,48)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Sodium Chloride (NaCl) for injection, 0.9%

Experimental PrEP:TAF/FTC once daily (weeks 0-26)

Intervention Type DRUG

Each tablet of Descovy contains 25mg of tenofovir alfenamide (TAF) and 200mg of emtricitabine (FTC), both of which are nucleot/side analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Interventions

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Vaccine Group A: DNA-HIV-PT123 and AIDSVAX® B/E (weeks 0,4,24,48)

1. DNA-HIV-PT123 HIV vaccine includes three DNA plasmids that encode clade C ZM96 Gag, clade C ZM96 Env, and CN54 Pol-Nef.
2. AIDSVAX® B/E is a bivalent HIV gp120 glycoprotein encompassing both subtype B (MN) and subtype E (A244) proteins that are adsorbed onto 600mcg of aluminum hydroxide gel suspension as adjuvant.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Vaccine Group B: DNA-HIV-PT123 and CN54gp140+MPLA-L (weeks 0,4), then MVA and CN54gp140+MPLA-L (weeks 24,48)

1. DNA-HIV-PT123 (see above)
2. CN54gp140+MPLA-L. Recombinant CN54gp140 is a HIV-1 envelope protein from the clade C strain 97/CN/54 isolate, which comprises a sequence of 634 amino acids. MPLA is a non-toxic version of LipoPolySaccharide (LPS), which is isolated from the LPS lipid A region of Salmonella Minnesota R595 and retains the immune-stimulatory properties of LPS, but exhibits low toxicity.
3. MVA-CMDR (Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Chiang Mai Double Recombinant) is a non-replicating, highly attenuated strain of Vaccina virus that has been genetically engineered to express the HIV-1 genes envgp160 CM235 Subtype E and gag and pol CM240 Subtype A (integrase-deleted and reverse transcriptase non-functional).

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Vaccine Group C: Saline placebo (weeks 0,4,24,48)

Sodium Chloride (NaCl) for injection, 0.9%

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Control PrEP:TDF/FTC once daily (weeks 0-26)

Each tablet of Truvada contains 245mg of tenofovir disoproxil (TDF) and 200mg of emtricitabine (FTC), both of which are nucleot/side analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Intervention Type DRUG

Experimental PrEP:TAF/FTC once daily (weeks 0-26)

Each tablet of Descovy contains 25mg of tenofovir alfenamide (TAF) and 200mg of emtricitabine (FTC), both of which are nucleot/side analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Truvada Descovy

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. HIV uninfected adults aged between 18 and 40 years old on the day of screening
2. Willing and able to provide informed consent prior to participation
3. Willing and able to comply with the visit schedule and provide blood, urine and other samples at the required time points
4. Home address accessible for visiting and intending to remain within the recruitment area for at least 82 weeks from screening
5. Likely to be at risk from exposure to HIV during follow up
6. Willing to undergo HIV testing, receive HIV test results and risk reduction counselling which includes promotion of PrEP and condoms
7. If female, of child-bearing age and not sterilised, willing to use a highly effective method of contraception from screening until 18 weeks after the last injection
8. If male and not sterilised, willing to avoid impregnating female partners from screening until 18 weeks after the last injection

Exclusion Criteria

1. HIV infection or indeterminate HIV result at screening or enrolment
2. Hepatitis B surface antigen positive
3. If female, currently pregnant (evidence from positive serum or urine pregnancy test), or lactating
4. Participating in another biomedical research study or in receipt of a live vaccine within 30 days prior to randomisation
5. Participation in a previous HIV vaccine or HIV immunotherapy trial
6. Receiving blood products or immunoglobulins within 12 weeks of screening
7. Known hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine formulations used in this trial or history of severe or multiple allergies to vaccines, drugs or pharmaceutical agents
8. Presence of a systemic disease at the time of randomisation or history of chronic illness that in the opinion of the investigator may compromise the participant's safety, preclude vaccination or compromise an immune response to vaccine
9. Abnormalities in routine laboratory parameters (Hb, creatinine, AST/ALT, alkaline phosphatase, total Bilirubin and glucose) of Grade 2 and above using the DAIDS toxicity table, version 2.1 July 2017 or estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 50ml/min
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Imperial College London

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University College, London

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

NETWORK

Sponsor Role collaborator

EuroVacc Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Medical Research Council, South Africa

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Mozambique

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

King's College London

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Karolinska Institutet

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

CONRAD

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Gilead Sciences

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Pontiano Kaleebu, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Resae

Sheena McCormack, MSc

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

MRC CTU at UCL

Jonathan Weber, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Imperial College London

Locations

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MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit

Entebbe, , Uganda

Site Status

Countries

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Uganda

References

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Chimukuche RS, Shandu L, Zulu S, Khanyile P, Singh N, Gaffoor Z, Kawuma R, McCormack S, Seeley J; PrEPVacc Study Group. HIV risk perception, trust and PrEP adherence among participants in an HIV prevention trial: a qualitative longitudinal study, South Africa. BMJ Open. 2025 Apr 23;15(4):e086742. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086742.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40268488 (View on PubMed)

Chimukuche RS, Kawuma R, Mahapa N, Mkhwanazi S, Singh N, Siva S, Ruzagira E, Seeley J; PrEPVacc Study Group. Examining oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) literacy among participants in an HIV vaccine trial preparedness cohort study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Nov 10;22(1):1336. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08730-8.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36357877 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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RGPK190803

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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