Evaluating the Safety of and Immune Response to HIV-MAG DNA Vaccine With or Without Plasmid IL-12 Adjuvant Delivered Intramuscularly Via Electroporation Followed by VSV-gag HIV Vaccine Boost in Healthy, HIV-Uninfected Adults

The effectiveness of a vaccine may be increased when combined with an adjuvant and/or when given with EP. The addition of an adjuvant or EP may increase a person's immune response to a vaccine. Furthermore, the immune response to HIV antigens may be improved by giving a DNA vaccine boosted with a live vector vaccine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of an HIV DNA vaccine (HIV-MAG) alone or in combination with an IL-12 pDNA adjuvant, delivered IM via EP followed by a Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) HIV gag vaccine boost given IM by needle and syringe in healthy, HIV-uninfected adults.

Participants will be enrolled into the study in one of four groups. Each of the four groups will receive 3 mg of the HIV-MAG vaccine alone or combined with one of three different doses of the IL-12 pDNA adjuvant, followed by the VSV HIV gag vaccine boost. Within each of the four groups, participants will be randomly assigned to receive the study vaccines or placebo. At study entry (Day 0), all participants will undergo a physical examination and blood collection. Female participants will also take a pregnancy test. Participants will complete questionnaires and receive counseling on HIV risk reduction. They will also receive their first vaccination. Participants will remain in the clinic for 30 minutes after the vaccination for observation and monitoring.

Additional vaccination study visits will occur at Months 1, 3, and 6. At Months 1 and 3, participants will receive the same vaccine or placebo they received at study entry; at Month 6, participants will receive the VSV HIV gag vaccine or placebo. For 3 days after the study entry and Months 1 and 3 vaccination visits, participants will record their symptoms in a diary. After the Month 6 vaccination visit, participants will record their symptoms for 7 days.

Participants in Groups 1 and 3 will attend additional study visits on Days 1, 3, 14, 42, 91, 98, 169, 171, 175, 182, 273, and 364. Participants in Groups 2 and 4 will attend additional study visits on Days 14, 42, 98, 182, 273, and 364. Most study visits will include a physical examination, blood collection, oral mucosa examination, interviews and questionnaires, and oral mucosa examination. If participant has any oral sores, oral swabs may be collected. Saliva also may be collected. Select study visits will include a mini mental state exam, urine collection, HIV testing, and risk reduction counseling. Study researchers will contact participants at Months 15, 24, and 36 for follow-up health monitoring.

Inclusion criteria

• Access to a participating HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) clinical research site (CRS) and willing to be followed for the planned duration of the study
• Able and willing to provide informed consent
• Assessment of understanding: participant demonstrates understanding of this study and completes a questionnaire prior to the first vaccination with verbal demonstration of understanding of all questionnaire items answered incorrectly
• Willing to receive HIV test results
• Willing to discuss HIV infection risks, amenable to HIV risk reduction counseling, and committed to maintaining behavior consistent with low risk of HIV exposure through the last required protocol clinic visit
• Willing to be contacted annually after completion of scheduled clinic visits for a total of 3 years following initial study injection
• Agrees not to enroll in another study of an investigational research agent prior to completion of last required protocol clinic visit (excludes annual contacts for safety surveillance)
• In good general health as shown by medical history, physical exam, and screening laboratory tests
• Assessed by the clinic staff as being at "low risk" for HIV infection
• Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 11.0 g/dL for participants who were born female; greater than or equal to 13.0 g/dL for participants who were born male
• White blood cell (WBC) count equal to 3,300 to 12,000 cells/mm^3
• Total lymphocyte count greater than or equal to 800 cells/mm^3
• Remaining differential either within institutional normal range or with site physician approval
• Platelets equal to 125,000 to 550,000/mm^3
• Chemistry panel: ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine values less than or equal to the institutional upper limits of normal; CPK less than or equal to 2.0 times the institutional upper limit of normal
• Negative HIV-1 and -2 blood test: participants in the United States must have a negative Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved immunoassay
• Negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
• Negative anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV), or negative HCV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) if the anti-HCV is positive
• Normal urine:

• Negative urine glucose, and
• Negative or trace urine protein, and
• Negative or trace urine hemoglobin (if trace hemoglobin is present on dipstick, a microscopic urinalysis within institutional normal range)
• Participants who were born female: negative serum or urine beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) pregnancy test performed prior to vaccination on the day of initial vaccination
• Reproductive status: A participant who was born female must agree to consistently use effective contraception for sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy from at least 21 days prior to enrollment through the last required protocol clinic visit; or not be of reproductive potential, such as having reached menopause (no menses for 1 year) or having undergone hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or tubal ligation; or be sexually abstinent. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
• Participants who were born female must also agree not to seek pregnancy through alternative methods, such as artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization until after the last required protocol clinic visit

Exclusion criteria

• Allergy to amide-type local anesthetics (bupivacaine [Marcaine], lidocaine [Xylocaine], mepivacaine [Polocaine/Carbocaine], etidocaine [Duranest], prilocaine [Citanest, EMLA® cream])
• Presence of implanted electronic medical device (e.g., pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator)
• Presence of surgical or traumatic metal implant in the upper limb and/or upper torso
• Sinus bradycardia (defined as less than 50 bpm on exam) or a history of cardiac arrhythmia: e.g., supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, or frequent ectopy
• Neurological or neuropsychiatric disorder that may interfere with the assessment of safety: e.g., frequent recurring headaches (i.e., a pattern of more than one headache per month affecting activities of daily living [ADLs]/work, frequent or severe/complicated migraines, cluster headaches), a chronic pain syndrome, dizziness, history of meningitis or encephalitis, cranial/spinal/peripheral neuropathy, limb weakness or paralysis, movement disorder, narcolepsy, stroke with sequelae, moderate/severe major depressive disorder, moderate/severe bipolar disorder
• Seizure disorder
• Untreated or incompletely treated syphilis infection
• HIV vaccine(s) received in a prior HIV vaccine trial. For potential participants who have received control/placebo in an HIV vaccine trial, the HVTN 087 Protocol Safety Review Team (PSRT) will determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis.
• Non-HIV experimental vaccine(s) received within the last 5 years in a prior vaccine trial. Exceptions may be made for vaccines that have subsequently undergone licensure by the FDA. For potential participants who have received control/placebo in an experimental vaccine trial, the HVTN 087 PSRT will determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis. For potential participants who have received an experimental vaccine(s) greater than 5 years ago, eligibility for enrollment will be determined by the PSRT on a case-by-case basis.
• Immunosuppressive medications received within 168 days before first vaccination. (Not excluded: [1] corticosteroid nasal spray for allergic rhinitis; [2] topical corticosteroids for mild, uncomplicated dermatitis; or [3] oral/parenteral corticosteroids given for non-chronic conditions not expected to recur [length of therapy 10 days or less with completion at least 30 days prior to enrollment].)
• Blood products received within 120 days before first vaccination
• Immunoglobulin received within 60 days before first vaccination
• Live attenuated vaccines other than influenza vaccine received within 30 days before first vaccination or scheduled within 14 days after injection (e.g., measles, mumps, and rubella [MMR]; oral polio vaccine [OPV]; varicella; yellow fever)
• Investigational research agents received within 30 days before first vaccination
• Intent to participate in another study of an investigational research agent during the planned duration of the HVTN 087 study
• Influenza vaccine or any vaccines that are not live attenuated vaccines and were received within 14 days prior to first vaccination (e.g., tetanus, pneumococcal, hepatitis A or B)
• Allergy treatment with antigen injections within 30 days before first vaccination or that are scheduled within 14 days after first vaccination
• Current anti-tuberculosis (TB) prophylaxis or therapy
• Clinically significant medical condition, physical examination findings, clinically significant abnormal laboratory results, or past medical history with clinically significant implications for current health. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
• 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 participant's ability to give informed consent
• Serious adverse reactions to vaccines, including anaphylaxis and related symptoms such as hives, respiratory difficulty, angioedema, and/or abdominal pain. (Not excluded: a participant who had a nonanaphylactic adverse reaction to pertussis vaccine as a child.)
• Autoimmune disease
• Immunodeficiency
• Asthma other than mild, well-controlled asthma. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
• Diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2, including cases controlled with diet alone. (Not excluded: history of isolated gestational diabetes.)
• Thyroidectomy, or thyroid disease requiring medication during the last 12 months
• History of hereditary angioedema, acquired angioedema, or idiopathic angioedema
• Hypertension:

• If a person has been found to have elevated blood pressure or hypertension during screening or previously, exclude for blood pressure that is not well controlled. Well-controlled blood pressure is defined as consistently less than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic and less than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic, with or without medication, with only isolated, brief instances of higher readings, which must be less than or equal to 150 mm Hg systolic and less than or equal to 100 mm Hg diastolic. For these participants, blood pressure must be less than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic and less than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic at enrollment.
• If a person has NOT been found to have elevated blood pressure or hypertension during screening or previously, exclude for systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 150 mm Hg at enrollment or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 100 mm Hg at enrollment.
• Body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 40; or BMI greater than or equal to 35 with two or more of the following: age greater than 45 years old, systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg, current smoker, or known hyperlipidemia
• Deltoid skin fold measurement by caliper greater than 40 mm
• Bleeding disorder diagnosed by a doctor (e.g., factor deficiency, coagulopathy, platelet disorder requiring special precautions)
• Cancer (Not excluded: a participant with a surgical excision and subsequent observation period that in the investigator's estimation has a reasonable assurance of sustained cure or is unlikely to recur during the period of the study.)
• Asplenia: any condition resulting in the absence of a functional spleen
• Psychiatric condition that precludes compliance with the protocol. Specifically excluded are people with psychoses within the past 3 years, ongoing risk for suicide, or history of suicide attempt or gesture within the past 3 years.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding