Evaluating Safety and Immune Response to the HIV-1 CH505 Transmitted/Founder gp120 Adjuvanted With GLA-SE in Healthy, HIV-exposed Uninfected Infants

NCT ID: NCT04607408

Last Updated: 2026-01-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE1
• Total Enrollment: 38 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-11-10
• Study Completion Date: 2024-07-24

Brief Summary

This study evaluated the safety and immune response in healthy HIV-exposed and uninfected infants to the protein vaccine, CH505TF gp120, adjuvanted with GLA-SE.

Detailed Description

This study evaluated evaluate the safety and immune response in healthy HIV-exposed and uninfected infants to the protein vaccine, CH505TF gp120, adjuvanted with GLA-SE.

This study enrolled 38 mother-infant pairs. To quantify the maternal HIV antibody response, mothers were also enrolled in the study but not received study product. Infants received the CH505TF gp120 protein adjuvanted with GLA-SE at Weeks 0, 8, 16, 32, and 54. The first dose was given within the first five days of life.

The study was conducted in three parts (Parts A, B, and C), and to ensure safety, enrollment proceeded in stages.

Part A (Initial Safety) enrolled first. 5 infants in Part A received a low dose of protein with a low dose of adjuvant and 2 infants received placebo.

After safety review post first vaccination of infants in Part A, Part B enrolled. In Part B (Safety Ramp-Up), 2 infants received a higher dose of protein with a higher dose of adjuvant and 2 infants received placebo.

After safety review post first vaccination of infants in Part B, Part C enrolled. In Part C (Immunogenicity), 5 infants received low dose protein with higher dose of adjuvant, 16 infants received a higher dose of protein with higher dose of adjuvant, and 6 infants received placebo.

There were 14 scheduled clinic visits over 24.5 months. For infants, study visits included some or all of the following: physical examinations, medical history, vaccine injections, HIV testing, and blood, cord blood, and stool collection. For mothers, study visits included some or all of the following: medical history, physical examinations, questionnaires, risk reduction counseling, and blood, breastmilk, and stool collection.

Conditions

HIV Infections

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

Part A, Group 1: CH505TF gp120 + GLA-SE

Participants received 20 mcg Stable CH505TF gp120 admixed with 2.5 mcg GLA-SE, administered as a 0.25 mL intramuscular (IM) injection into either thigh at Weeks 0, 8, 16, 32, and 54.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

CH505TF gp120

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

HIV-1 CH505 transmitted/founder virus Env gp120 immunogen

GLA-SE adjuvant

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

An oil-in-water stable emulsion (SE) containing the immunological adjuvant Glucopyranosyl Lipid A (GLA)

Part A, Group 2: Placebo

Participants received Placebo administered as a 0.25 mL IM injection, into either thigh at Weeks 0, 8, 16, 32, and 54.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Sodium Chloride for Injection, 0.9% USP

Part B, Group 3: CH505TF gp120 + GLA-SE

Participants received 20 mcg Stable CH505TF gp120 admixed with 5 mcg GLA-SE, administered as a 0.5 mL IM injection into either thigh at Weeks 0, 8, 16, 32, and 54.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

CH505TF gp120

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

HIV-1 CH505 transmitted/founder virus Env gp120 immunogen

GLA-SE adjuvant

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

An oil-in-water stable emulsion (SE) containing the immunological adjuvant Glucopyranosyl Lipid A (GLA)

Part B, Group 4: Placebo

Participants received Placebo administered as a 0.5 mL IM injection, into either thigh at Weeks 0, 8, 16, 32, and 54.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Sodium Chloride for Injection, 0.9% USP

Part C, Group 5: CH505TF gp120 + GLA-SE

Participants received 20 mcg Stable CH505TF gp120 admixed with 5 mcg GLA-SE, administered as a 0.5 mL IM injection into either thigh at Weeks 0, 8, 16, 32, and 54.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

CH505TF gp120

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

HIV-1 CH505 transmitted/founder virus Env gp120 immunogen

GLA-SE adjuvant

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

An oil-in-water stable emulsion (SE) containing the immunological adjuvant Glucopyranosyl Lipid A (GLA)

Part C, Group 6: Placebo

Participants received Placebo administered as a 0.5 mL IM injection, into either thigh at Weeks 0, 8, 16, 32, and 54.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Sodium Chloride for Injection, 0.9% USP

Part C, Group 7: CH505TF gp120 + GLA-SE

Participants received 5 mcg Stable CH505TF gp120 admixed with 5 mcg GLA-SE, administered as a 0.5 mL IM injection into either thigh at Weeks 0, 8, 16, 32, and 54.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

CH505TF gp120

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

HIV-1 CH505 transmitted/founder virus Env gp120 immunogen

GLA-SE adjuvant

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

An oil-in-water stable emulsion (SE) containing the immunological adjuvant Glucopyranosyl Lipid A (GLA)

Part C, Group 8: Placebo

Participants received Placebo administered as a 0.5 mL IM injection, into either thigh at Weeks 0, 8, 16, 32, and 54.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Sodium Chloride for Injection, 0.9% USP

Interventions

CH505TF gp120

HIV-1 CH505 transmitted/founder virus Env gp120 immunogen

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

GLA-SE adjuvant

An oil-in-water stable emulsion (SE) containing the immunological adjuvant Glucopyranosyl Lipid A (GLA)

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Placebo

Sodium Chloride for Injection, 0.9% USP

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Mother's age is at least 18 years, and willing and able to provide written informed consent for her and her infant's participation in this study.
• Mother is in the second or third trimester of singleton pregnancy, as determined by a clinical exam, or sonography and reported menstrual history.
• Mother agrees to donate umbilical cord blood.
• Mother has a planned Caesarian Section at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Soweto and plans to remain in the area after delivery.
• Mother is determined by the site investigator to be in good overall health at the time of delivery based on medical history, and physical exam.
• Mother has a documented CD4 count > 350 cells/microliter during her pregnancy.
• Mother has a documented SARS-CoV-2 negative PCR test within 2 days before delivery to 5 days after delivery
• Mother has access to the participating HVTN CRS and willingness to be followed for the planned duration of the study.
• Assessment of understanding: Mother demonstrates understanding of this study; completes a questionnaire prior to delivery with verbal demonstration of understanding of all questionnaire items answered incorrectly.
• Mother agrees not to enroll either herself or her infant in another research study for the duration of the trial without prior approval of the HVTN 135 PSRT.
• Mother has confirmed HIV-1 infection documented by medical records at any time during or prior to screening, and confirmed by the HVTN CRS by serology.
• Mother has been on cART for at least sixteen weeks prior to delivery and intends to continue with cART for the duration of breastfeeding.\
• Mother has a viral load of less than 400 copies/mL between two weeks before and 5 days after delivery.

Exclusion Criteria

• Estimated gestational age at birth is at least 37 weeks.
• Weight at birth is at least 2.5 kg.
• Has initiated antiretroviral prophylaxis consistent with current site-specific standard of care.
• Hemoglobin >14.0 g/dL.
• White Blood Cell Count ≥ 7000 cells/mm3
• Platelets > 100,000 cells/mm3
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) <1.25 times upper limit of age adjusted normal.
• Creatinine < 1.1 times upper limit of age adjusted normal.
• Negative HIV-1 nucleic acid test on specimen drawn within 72 hours of birth.
• Written informed consent provided by mother.
• Age is equal to or less than five days.

• Any clinically significant congenital anomaly/birth defect.
• Documented or suspected serious medical illness, infection, clinically significant finding from physical examination or immediate life-threatening condition, including requirement for ongoing supplemental oxygen, as judged by the examining clinician.
• Receipt of or anticipated need for blood products, immunoglobulin, or immunosuppressive therapy. This includes infants who require Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (HBIG) but does not require exclusion of infants who receive Hepatitis B vaccine in the newborn period.
• Receipt of any other investigational product.

• Any WHO Grade IV illness within one year prior to study enrollment as determined by the history and physical examination and review of the medical record (if available). These include HIV wasting syndrome, PJP Pneumonia, Cerebral Toxoplasmosis, extrapulmonary Cryptococcosis, Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, any disseminated endemic mycosis (histoplasmosis), candidiasis of the esophagus, trachea, bronchi or lung, disseminated atypical mycobacteria, non-typhoid Salmonella septicemia, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma.
• Prior participation in any HIV-1 vaccine or anti-HIV antibody-mediated prevention trial.
• Receipt of any investigational agent during this pregnancy.
• Receipt of blood products, immunoglobulin, or immunomodulating therapy within 45 days prior to delivery of the placenta.
• Any medical, psychiatric, occupational, or other condition that, in the judgment of the investigator, would interfere with, or serve as a contraindication to, protocol adherence, assessment of safety or reactogenicity, or a volunteer's ability to give informed consent.
• Any condition that places the newborn at higher risk of early-onset sepsis, such as concern for active maternal infection at delivery as determined by local site investigators (eg, fever).
• Detectable Hepatitis B surface antigen.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 0 Days
• Maximum Eligible Age: 5 Days
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

HIV Vaccine Trials Network

NETWORK

Sponsor Role: lead

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Avy Violari

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

Georgia Tomaras

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Duke University, HVTN Laboratory

Locations

Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), Soweto CRS

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Countries

South Africa

References

Violari A, Otwombe K, Hahn W, Chen S, Josipovic D, Baba V, Angelidou A, Smolen KK, Levy O, Mkhize NN, Woodward Davis AS, Martin TM, Haynes BF, Williams WB, Sagawa ZK, Kublin JG, Polakowski L, Brewinski Isaacs M, Yen C, Tomaras G, Corey L, Janes H, Gray GE. Safety and implementation of phase I randomized GLA-SE-adjuvanted CH505TF gp120 HIV vaccine trial in newborns. J Clin Invest. 2025 Apr 3;135(11):e186927. doi: 10.1172/JCI186927. eCollection 2025 Jun 2.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40178906 (View on PubMed)

Violari A, Otwombe K, Hahn W, Chen S, Josipovic D, Baba V, Angelidou A, Smolen KK, Levy O, Mkhize NN, Woodward AS, Martin TM, Haynes B, Williams WB, Sagawa ZK, Kublin J, Polakowski L, Isaacs MB, Yen C, Tomaras G, Corey L, Janes H, Gray G. Safety and implementation of a phase 1 randomized GLA-SE-adjuvanted CH505TF gp120 HIV vaccine trial in newborns. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Oct 17:2024.10.15.24315548. doi: 10.1101/2024.10.15.24315548.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 39484284 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

UM1AI068614

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

HVTN 135

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id