Trial of the Safety and Immunogenicity of an Oral, Replicating Ad26 Vectored HIV-1 Vaccine

This study is a phase I dose-escalation randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of rcAd26.MOS1.HIV-Env, an oral replicating adenovirus 26 vector vaccine in healthy HIV-1 uninfected adults. The vaccine will be administered orally at a single time point (Day 0) at one of four dose levels depending on study group: 1 x 10^8 virus particles (vp), 1 x 10^9 vp, 1 x 10^10 vp and 1 x 10^11 vp. Volunteers will be randomized to vaccine: placebo in a 5:1 ratio in each group.

Volunteers will be screened up to 56 days before vaccination and will be followed for 12 months after vaccination.

Because the vaccine is replication competent, volunteers will be housed in an isolation unit from day -2 through day 9. Household contacts will also be enrolled and tested for possible transmission.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-40 years old.
• Ability and willingness to provide informed consent.
• Complete an assessment of understanding
• Available for the duration of the trial, including willingness to be kept in an isolation facility
• From Day 10 through 4 months following vaccination must reside alone or with no more than 2 adults (age 18-60) and no minors under age 18
• Good general health as shown by medical history, physical exam, and screening
• Willing to undergo HIV testing and willing to receive risk reduction counseling
• All female volunteers must be willing to undergo urine pregnancy tests
• Sexually active males must be willing to use an effective method of contraception until at least 4 months after vaccination
• Women of child bearing potential commit to use an effective method of contraception when sexually active with males for 4 months after vaccination
• Willing to forgo donations of blood or any other tissues during the study and, for those who test HIV positive due to trial vaccination (vaccine-induced HIV seroreactivity), until the anti-HIV antibody titers become undetectable
• Low risk for HIV infection and willing to maintain low-risk behavior for the trial duration

Exclusion criteria

• Confirmed HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection; confirmed HCV, HBV, or syphilis infection
• Current or planned participation in another clinical trial of an experimental agent during the study period
• Pregnant or lactating
• Significant acute or chronic disease, including inflammatory bowel disease or other chronic gastrointestinal disease, immunodeficiency syndrome, or condition requiring immunosuppressant medications
• Use of anticancer, antituberculosis or other medications considered significant by the investigator within the previous 6 months
• Receipt of live-attenuated vaccine within the previous 60 days or planned receipt within 60 days after vaccination with Investigational Product (within 14 days for live attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV]); or receipt of other vaccine (e.g., influenza, pneumococcal), allergy treatment with antigen injections or tuberculin skin test within the previous 14 days or planned receipt within 14 days after vaccination with Investigational Product
• Receipt of blood transfusion or blood-derived products within the previous 3 months
• Receipt of HIV vaccine(s) in a prior HIV vaccine trial.
• Previous severe local or systemic reactions to vaccination
• History of splenectomy
• History of seizure in the last 3 years
• Known autoimmune disease
• Asthma other than mild, well-controlled asthma.
• Diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2
• Thyroidectomy, or thyroid disease requiring medication during the last 12 months
• Angioedema within the last 3 years if episodes are considered serious or have required medication within the last 2 years
• Hypertension
• Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40
• Bleeding disorder diagnosed by a doctor
• Malignancy (Not excluded: a volunteer 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 study period)
• Psychiatric condition that compromises safety of the volunteer or precludes compliance with the protocol
• All healthcare workers with direct patient contact
• Childcare worker who has direct contact with children
• Individuals employed as food handlers or otherwise engaged in the preparation or delivery of food outside of their place of residence
• Positive urine toxicology test

Household contacts 18-60 years of age are also evaluated for eligibility with a more abbreviated list of inclusion/exclusion criteria.