Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of Recombinant HIV-1 Envelope Protein SOSIP v8.2 763 Vaccine, Adjuvanted With MPLA Liposomes, in Healthy, HIV-Uninfected Adults

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women, aged between 18 and 50 years on the day of screening.
• Willing to comply with the requirements of the protocol and available for follow-up for the planned duration of the study.
• Willing and able to give written informed consent.
• Willing to undergo HIV testing, risk reduction counselling and receive HIV test results, including the possibility of vaccine-induced seropositivity (VISP).
• If female of childbearing potential, willing to use highly effective contraceptive methods or have practiced sexual abstinence from the screening visit until four months after the last vaccination.

Highly effective contraceptive methods will include:

oral, intravaginal or transdermal combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation; oral, injectable or implantable progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation; intrauterine device; intrauterine hormone-releasing system; bilateral tubal occlusion; vasectomized partner and sexual abstinence*

• All female volunteers who are not heterosexually active at screening, must agree to utilize a highly effective method of contraception if they become heterosexually active, as outlined above.
• All female volunteers must be willing to undergo urine pregnancy tests at time points indicated in the Schedule of Visits and Procedures (Appendix 1).
• All sexually active male volunteers, regardless of reproductive potential, must be willing to use a highly effective method of contraception from the day of first vaccination until at least four months after the last vaccination to avoid exposure of partners to Investigational Medicinal Product in ejaculate and to prevent conception with female partners.
• Willing to abstain from donating blood, eggs or sperm from the day of first vaccination until at least 3 months after receiving the last dose of the vaccine and, for those who test HIV-positive due to vaccine-induced antibodies, until the anti-HIV antibody titres become undetectable.
• Body Mass Index 18 to 49 Kg/m2 at screening. *A woman will be considered of childbearing potential, following menarche and until becoming post-menopausal unless permanently sterile. Permanent sterilization methods include hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a post-menopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. However, in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient. NOTE: Periodic abstinence (calendar, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods), withdrawal (coitus interruptus), spermicides only, and lactational amenorrhoea method (LAM) are not acceptable methods of contraception. 8. If male and not sterilized, willing to avoid impregnating female partners from screening until 8 weeks after last injection.

Exclusion criteria

• Confirmed HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection (HIV Ag/Ab plus HIV RNA testing)
• Self-reported risk for HIV exposure or STIs prior to screening, defined as:

• Unprotected sexual intercourse with a known HIV infected person, a partner known to be at high risk for HIV infection or a casual partner (i.e., no continuing established relationship) in the last six months;
• Engaged in sex work in the last twelve months;
• Frequent excessive daily alcohol use or frequent binge drinking, or any use of illicit drugs in the last twelve months;
• Self-reported history of newly-acquired syphilis, gonorrhoea, non-gonococcal urethritis, HSV-2, chlamydia, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), trichomonas, mucopurulent cervicitis, epididymitis, proctitis, lymphogranuloma venereum, chancroid, or hepatitis B in the last twelve months;
• MSM or transgender persons having had unprotected anal intercourse in the last six months with either a male partner with an unknown HIV status OR a HIV positive partner with a (presumed) detectable viral load;
• MSM or transgender persons diagnosed with a rectal STI in the last six months;
• MSM or transgender persons who have been prescribed post-exposure prohylaxis (PEP) in the last six months
• If female, pregnant or planning a pregnancy during the period of enrolment until four months after the last study vaccination; or lactating.
• Any clinically relevant medical condition that is considered in the opinion of the investigator to make the volunteer unsuitable for participation in the study (under which underlying haematological disorders, auto-immune disease, immunodeficiency, gastrointestinal, hepatic and cardiopulmonary disorders). This also includes a history of malignancy in the past five years (prior to screening) or ongoing malignancy. (Note: A history of a completely excised malignancy that is considered cured is not an exclusion).
• Psychiatric condition that compromises the safety of the volunteers and compliance with the protocol (severe depression, psychosis, history of suicide attempts, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, severe food disorder, use of antipsychotic medication).
• History of respiratory disease requiring daily medication or any treatment of respiratory disease exacerbations in the last 5 years
• Infectious disease in the six months before screening: acute and chronic hepatitis B infection (HbsAg-positive), hepatitis C infection (anti-HCV and HCV RNA positive), treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection in the past year, or active syphilis (positive chemiluminescence immunoassay (LIAISON XL), confirmed by positive RPR).
• History of hyposplenia (anatomical or functional).
• Bleeding disorder that was diagnosed by a physician (e.g., factor deficiency, coagulopathy or platelet disorder that requires special precautions.) (Note: A volunteer who states that he or she has easy bruising or bleeding, but does not have a formal diagnosis and has intramuscular injections and blood draws without any adverse experience, is eligible).
• History of hypersensitivity, generalized urticaria, angioedema or anaphylaxis and other significant reactions related to food, drugs, vaccines or pharmaceutical agents (Note: subjects with angioedema or anaphylaxis to a known trigger with at least 5 years since last reaction can be included
• Receipt of any vaccine within 30 days of vaccination with the Investigational Medicinal Product (14 days for seasonal influenza vaccination).
• Receipt of blood products or blood-derived products within four months of screening.
• Impossibility to proceed to the leukapheresis (e.g. absence of peripheral venous access).
• Participation in another clinical trial of an Investigational Medicinal Product currently, within the previous three months or expected participation during this study. Concurrent participation in an observational study, not involving medicinal products and not requiring any blood or tissue sample collection is not an exclusion criterion.
• Prior receipt of another investigational HIV vaccine or HIV monoclonal antibody (product). (Note: receipt of placebo in a previous HIV vaccine trial will not exclude a volunteer from participation if documentation is available.)
• Known hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine formulation used in this trial, or severe or multiple allergies to drugs or pharmaceutical agents.
• Positive reaction in antinuclear antibody (ANA) screen and/or subsequent anti-dsDNA and/or anti-ENA assessment; or clinically significant immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG or IgM) values.
• Use of any medications, including over-the-counter products, which, in the opinion of the investigators, would either interfere with the study or potentially cause harm to the volunteer. Use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, chemotherapeutics, anti- tuberculosis or other medications considered significant by the investigator within the previous six months. The following exceptions are permitted and will not exclude study participation: use of corticosteroid nasal spray for rhinitis, topical corticosteroids for an acute uncomplicated dermatitis (except for steroids applied to the non-dominant upper arm); or a short course (duration of ten days or less, or a single injection) of corticosteroid for a non-chronic condition (based on investigator clinical judgment) at least two weeks prior to enrolment in this study.
• Active, serious infections requiring (par)enteral antibiotic, antiviral or antifungal therapy within 30 days prior to enrolment.
• Seizure disorder: A participant who has had a seizure in the last three years prior to screening is excluded. (Not excluded: a participant with a history of seizures who has neither required medications nor had a seizure for three years).
• Any of the following abnormal laboratory parameters:

• Absolute neutrophil count ≤1,000/mm3
• Absolute lymphocyte count ≤650/mm3
• Hemoglobin <11 g/dl in females; <13 g/dl in males
• Platelets < 125,000 cells/mm3
• ALT >1.25 x ULN
• AST>1.25 x ULN
• Creatinine >1.1 ULN
• If, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, it is not in the best interest of the volunteer to participate in the trial.