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Published on: August 31, 2014
Safety and implementation of a phase 1 randomized GLA-SE-adjuvanted CH505TF gp120 HIV vaccine trial in newborns
Avy Violari1, Kennedy Otwombe1, William Hahn2
1Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Background:
The neonatal immune system is uniquely poised to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) and thus infants are ideal for evaluating HIV vaccine candidates. We present the design and safety of a novel glucopyranosyl lipid A (GLA)-stable emulsion (SE) adjuvant admixed with a first-in-infant CH505 transmitter-founder (CH505TF) gp120 immunogen designed to induce precursors for bnAbs against HIV.
Methods:
HVTN 135 is a phase I randomized, placebo-controlled trial of CH505TF+GLA-SE or placebo. Healthy infants in South Africa aged ≤5 days, born to mothers living with HIV but HIV nucleic acid negative at birth were randomized to five doses of CH505TF + GLA-SE or placebo at birth and 8, 16, 32, and 54 weeks.
Results:
38 infants (median age = 4 days; interquartile range 4, 4.75 days) were enrolled November 2020 to January 2022. Among 28 (10) infants assigned to receive CH505TF + GLA-SE (placebo), most (32/38) completed the 5-dose immunization series and follow-up (35/38). Solicited local and systemic reactions were more frequent in vaccine (8, 28.6% local; 16, 57.1% systemic) vs. placebo recipients (1, 10% local, p = 0.25; 4, 40.0% systemic, p = 0.38). All events were Grade 1 except two Grade 2 events (pain, lethargy). Serious vaccine-related adverse events were not recorded.
Conclusions:
This study illustrates the feasibility of conducting trials of novel adjuvanted HIV vaccines in HIV-exposed infants receiving standard infant vaccinations. The safety profile of the CH505TF + GLA-SE vaccine was reassuring.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04607408.
Funding:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
