Safety of and Immune Response to an HIV Vaccine (SF-2 gp120) With or Without MTP-PE/MF59 Adjuvant

One experimental AIDS vaccine is the gp120 vaccine. The HIV envelope glycoprotein 120 is manufactured through recombinant DNA technology and used as an immunogen. Antibodies directed against gp120 can neutralize HIV-1, and gp120 can also stimulate certain types of cell-mediated immune responses. Because many immunogens, including candidate HIV vaccines, may evoke relatively weak immune responses, the use of adjuvants, or substances that augment immune responses to vaccines, is of interest. MTP-PE/MF59, composed of the immunomodulator MTP-PE combined with MF59 emulsion, appears to be a promising adjuvant and has been selected for studies with the gp120 vaccine.

In Part A, 32 volunteers (eight on each of four treatment arms) are randomized to receive one of two doses (15 or 50 mcg) of gp120 vaccine with either MTP-PE/MF59 adjuvant emulsion or MF59 emulsion alone. The volunteers receive three IM injections at 0, 1, and 6 months. In Part B, 16 female volunteers (eight on each of two treatment arms) are randomized to receive either MF59 emulsion alone (placebo) or MF59 emulsion plus gp120 vaccine (50 mcg). Volunteers receive five IM injections at monthly intervals.

Inclusion criteria

Patients must have:

• Normal history and physical exam.
• No identifiable high-risk behavior for HIV infection.
• Negative ELISA for HIV.
• Normal cell-mediated immune responses using Merieux skin test.

Exclusion criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:

• Significant evidence of depression.
• Positive syphilis serology (e.g., RPR) that is documented not to be a false positive or from a remote (> 6 months) treated infection.
• Circulating Hepatitis B antigenemia.
• More than two sexual partners, or sexual contact with a high-risk partner, within the past 6 months.

Patients with the following prior conditions are excluded:

• History of immunodeficiency, chronic illness, autoimmune disease, or use of immunosuppressive medications.
• Significant evidence of depression or under treatment for psychiatric problems within the past year.
• History of anaphylaxis or other adverse vaccine reactions.
• Syphilis, gonorrhea, or any other sexually transmitted diseases (including chlamydia or pelvic inflammatory disease) within the past 6 months.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

• Immunoglobulin or vaccines within the past 2 months.
• Experimental agents within the past 30 days.

Prior Treatment:

Excluded:

• Blood transfusions or cryoprecipitates within the past 3 months.

Risk Behavior: Excluded:

• History of IV drug use within the past year.
• More than two sexual partners, or sexual contact with a high-risk partner, within the past 6 months.