A Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of BG505 MD39.3, BG505 MD39.3 gp151, and BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO HIV Trimer mRNA Vaccines in Healthy, HIV-uninfected Adult Participants

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05217641
• Recruitment Status: Active, not recruiting
• First Posted: February 1, 2022
• Last Update Posted: January 11, 2024
• Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Collaborators: National Institutes of Health (NIH); Department of Health and Human Services
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This is an open-label, multicenter, randomized phase 1 study to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of BG505 MD39.3, BG505 MD39.3 gp151, and BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO HIV trimer mRNA. These trimers are based on the BG505 MD39 native-like trimer reported in Steichen et al. Immunity 2016. The primary hypothesis is that the BG505 MD39.3 soluble and membrane-bound trimer mRNA vaccines will be safe and well-tolerated among HIV-uninfected individuals and will elicit autologous neutralizing antibodies.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
HIV Infections	Biological: BG505 MD39.3 mRNA; Biological: BG505 MD39.3 gp151 mRNA; Biological: BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO mRNA	Phase 1

Detailed Description:

Participants will receive BG505 MD39.3 mRNA, BG505 MD39.3 gp151 mRNA or BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO mRNA, at doses of 100 mcg or 250mcg, administered via intramuscular (IM) injections into the deltoid muscle. Participants will be evaluated for safety and immune responses through blood and lymph node fine-needle aspiration collection at specified timepoints throughout the study.

A dose escalation plan will be implemented, whereby sentinel safety groups for each of the three low-dose groups in Part A would be enrolled and evaluated for safety 2 weeks after the first vaccination. If safety criteria are met, then enrollment of the Part B sentinel safety groups and the remainder of the Part A participants would commence. Safety for the sentinel groups in Part B will be assessed after the first vaccination prior to full enrollment of Part B. In addition, standard safety evaluations will occur routinely throughout the trial.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 108 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Sequential Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Official Title: A Phase 1, Randomized, Open-label Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of BG505 MD39.3, BG505 MD39.3 gp151, and BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO HIV Trimer mRNA Vaccines in Healthy, HIV-uninfected Adult Participants
• Actual Study Start Date: February 11, 2022
• Actual Primary Completion Date: July 17, 2023
• Estimated Study Completion Date: June 24, 2027

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Part A, Group 1: Low dose BG505 MD39.3 mRNA; 18 participants Dose: 100mcg of BG505 MD39.3 mRNA formulated administered at months 0, 2, and 6	Biological: BG505 MD39.3 mRNA; Administered by IM injection
Experimental: Part A, Group 2: Low dose BG505 MD39.3 gp151 mRNA; 18 participants Dose: 100mcg of BG505 MD39.3 gp151 mRNA administered at months 0, 2, and 6	Biological: BG505 MD39.3 gp151 mRNA; Administered by IM injection
Experimental: Part A, Group 3: Low dose BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO mRNA; 18 participants Dose: 100mcg of BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO mRNA administered at months 0, 2, and 6	Biological: BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO mRNA; Administered by IM injection
Experimental: Part B, Group 1: BG505 MD39.3 mRNA; 18 participants Dose: 250mcg of BG505 MD39.3 mRNA administered at months 0, 2, and 6	Biological: BG505 MD39.3 mRNA; Administered by IM injection
Experimental: Part B, Group 2: BG505 MD39.3 gp151 mRNA; 18 participants Dose: 250mcg of BG505 MD39.3 gp151 mRNA administered at months 0, 2, and 6	Biological: BG505 MD39.3 gp151 mRNA; Administered by IM injection
Experimental: Part B, Group 3: BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO mRNA; 18 participants Dose: 250mcg of BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO mRNA administered at months 0, 2, and 6	Biological: BG505 MD39.3 gp151 CD4KO mRNA; Administered by IM injection

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Local reactogenicity signs and symptoms following receipt of any study product. [ Time Frame: 7 (or more) days following each injection ]
   Graded according to the Division of AIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Corrected Version 2.1, July 2017 (exceptions apply).
2. Systemic reactogenicity signs and symptoms following receipt of any study product. [ Time Frame: 7 (or more) days following each injection ]
   Graded according to the Division of AIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Corrected Version 2.1, July 2017 (exceptions apply).
3. Laboratory measures of safety [ Time Frame: 30 days following each injection ]
   Graded according to the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Corrected Version 2.1 (exceptions apply).
4. Adverse events (AEs) [ Time Frame: 30 days following each injection ]
   Graded according to the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Corrected Version 2.1, July 2017 (exceptions apply).
5. Serious adverse events (SAEs) [ Time Frame: Through Month 12 ]
   Graded according to the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Corrected Version 2.1, July 2017 (exceptions apply).
6. Medically attended adverse events (MAAEs) [ Time Frame: Through Month 12 ]
   Graded according to the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Corrected Version 2.1, July 2017 (exceptions apply).
7. Adverse events of special interest (AESIs) [ Time Frame: Through Month 12 ]
   Graded according to the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Corrected Version 2.1, July 2017 (exceptions apply).
8. Adverse events leading to early participant withdrawal or permanent discontinuation [ Time Frame: Through Month 12 ]
   Graded according to the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Corrected Version 2.1, July 2017 (exceptions apply).
9. Occurrence of serum antibody neutralization of a vaccine-matched tier 2 HIV-1 strain [ Time Frame: 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
   As measured by the TZM-bl assay
10. Magnitude of serum antibody neutralization of a vaccine-matched tier 2 HIV-1 strain [ Time Frame: 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
    As measured by the TZM-bl assay
11. Response rate of serum antibody neutralization of a vaccine-matched tier 2 HIV-1 strain [ Time Frame: 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
    As measured by the TZM-bl assay

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Occurrence of serum antibody neutralization of a vaccine-matched tier 2 HIV-1 strain [ Time Frame: Measured at 10 weeks, 2 weeks after the 2nd vaccination timepoint ]
   As measured by TZM-bl assay
2. Magnitude of serum antibody neutralization of a vaccine-matched tier 2 HIV-1 strain [ Time Frame: Measured at 10 weeks, 2 weeks after the 2nd vaccination timepoint ]
   As measured by TZM-bl assay
3. Response rate of serum antibody neutralization of a vaccine-matched tier 2 HIV-1 strain [ Time Frame: Measured at 10 weeks, 2 weeks after the 2nd vaccination timepoint ]
   As measured by TZM-bl assay
4. Occurrence of serum IgG binding antibodies to the BG505 trimer, and specific epitopes (base of trimer, V3, internal epitope) [ Time Frame: Measured at 10 and 26 weeks, 2 weeks after the 2nd and 3rd vaccination timepoints, respectively ]
   As measured by binding antibody multiplex assay (BAMA)
5. Magnitude of serum IgG binding antibodies to the BG505 trimer, and specific epitopes (base of trimer, V3, internal epitope) [ Time Frame: Measured at 10 and 26 weeks, 2 weeks after the 2nd and 3rd vaccination timepoints, respectively ]
   As measured by BAMA
6. Response rate of serum IgG binding antibodies to the BG505 trimer, and specific epitopes (base of trimer, V3, internal epitope [ Time Frame: Measured at 10 and 26 weeks, 2 weeks after the 2nd and 3rd vaccination timepoints, respectively ]
   As measured by BAMA
7. Occurrence of CD4+ T-cell responses [ Time Frame: Measured at 26 weeks, 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
   As assessed by intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assays
8. Magnitude of CD4+ T-cell responses [ Time Frame: Measured at 26 weeks, 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
   As assessed by intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assays
9. Response rate of CD4+ T-cell responses [ Time Frame: Measured at 26 weeks, 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
   As assessed by intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assays
10. Occurrence serum antibody neutralization of a vaccine-matched tier 2 HIV-1 strain [ Time Frame: Measured at 52 weeks, 6 months after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
    As measured by TZM-bl assay
11. Magnitude of serum antibody neutralization of a vaccine-matched tier 2 HIV-1 strain [ Time Frame: Measured at 52 weeks, 6 months after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
    As measured by TZM-bl assay
12. Response rate of serum antibody neutralization of a vaccine-matched tier 2 HIV-1 strain [ Time Frame: Measured at 52 weeks, 6 months after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
    As measured by TZM-bl assay
13. Occurrence of serum IgG binding antibodies to the BG505 trimer, and specific epitopes (base of trimer, V3, internal epitope) [ Time Frame: Measured at 52 weeks, 6 months after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
    As measured by BAMA
14. Magnitude of serum IgG binding antibodies to the BG505 trimer, and specific epitopes (base of trimer, V3, internal epitope) [ Time Frame: Measured at 52 weeks, 6 months after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
    As measured by BAMA
15. Response rate of serum IgG binding antibodies to the BG505 trimer, and specific epitopes (base of trimer, V3, internal epitope) [ Time Frame: Measured at 52 weeks, 6 months after the 3rd vaccination timepoint ]
    As measured by BAMA

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 55 Years (Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Able and willing to complete the informed consent process, including an Assessment of Understanding: volunteer demonstrates understanding of this study; completes a questionnaire prior to first vaccination with verbal demonstration of understanding of all questionnaire items answered incorrectly.
2. 18-55 years old, inclusive, on day of enrollment.
3. Agrees to comply with planned study procedures and be available for clinic follow-up through the last clinic visit.
4. Agrees not to enroll in another study of an investigational agent during participation in the trial.
5. In good general health according to the clinical judgement of the site investigator.
6. Physical examination and laboratory results without clinically significant findings that would interfere with assessment of safety or reactogenicity in the clinical judgement of the site investigator.
7. Assessed as low risk for HIV acquisition per low risk guidelines, agrees to discuss HIV infection risks, agrees to risk reduction counseling, and agrees to avoid behavior associated with high risk of HIV exposure through the final study visit. Low risk may include persons stably taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as prescribed for 6 months or longer.

8. Hemoglobin

   • Greater than or equal to 11.0 g/dL for volunteers who were assigned female sex at birth
   • Greater than or equal to 13.0 g/dL for volunteers who were assigned male sex at birth and transgender males who have been on hormone therapy for more than 6 consecutive months
   • Greater than or equal to 12.0 g/dL for transgender females who have been on hormone therapy for more than 6 consecutive months
   • For transgender participants who have been on hormone therapy for less than 6 consecutive months, determine hemoglobin eligibility based on the sex assigned at birth
9. White blood cell (WBC) count > 3,500/mm3
10. Platelets ≥125,000 /mm3
11. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) based on the institutional normal range
12. Serum creatinine ≤1.1 x ULN based on the institutional normal range
13. Negative results for HIV infection by an (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA).
14. Negative for anti-Hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) or negative HCV nucleic acid test (NAT) if anti-HCV antibodies are detected.
15. Negative for Hepatitis B surface antigen.

16. For a volunteer capable of becoming pregnant:

    • Volunteers who were assigned female sex at birth and are of reproductive potential must agree to use effective means of birth control from at least 21 days prior to enrollment through 3 months after their third vaccination timepoint
    • Has negative β-HCG (beta human chorionic gonadotropin) pregnancy test (urine or serum) at screening and prior to study product administration on day of enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Volunteer who is breast-feeding or pregnant.
2. Hypertension that is not well controlled. 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 in this protocol as consistently < 140 mm Hg systolic and < 90 mm Hg diastolic, with or without medication, with only isolated, brief instances of higher readings, which must be ≤ 150 mm Hg systolic and ≤ 100 mm Hg diastolic. For these volunteers, blood pressure must be < 140 mm Hg systolic and < 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 ≥ 150 mm Hg at enrollment or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mm Hg at enrollment.
3. Diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2. (Not exclusionary: type 2 cases controlled with diet alone or a history of isolated gestational diabetes).
4. Previous or current recipient of an investigational HIV vaccine (previous placebo recipients are not excluded).
5. Acutely ill or febrile (temperature ≥ 38.0°C/100.4°F) on the day of the first vaccination. Participants meeting this criterion may be rescheduled within the enrollment window period. Afebrile participants with minor illnesses can be enrolled at the discretion of the Investigator.
6. Immunosuppressive medications received within 168 days before first vaccination (Not exclusionary: [1] corticosteroid nasal spray; [2] inhaled corticosteroids; [3] topical corticosteroids for mild, uncomplicated dermatologic condition; or [4] a single course of oral/parenteral prednisone or equivalent at doses < 60 mg/day and length of therapy < 11 days with completion at least 30 days prior to enrollment).
7. Blood products or immunoglobulin within 16 weeks prior to enrollment; receipt of immunoglobulin within 16 weeks prior to enrollment requires PSRT approval.

8. Receipt of any of the following:

   • Within 4 weeks prior to enrollment:

     • Any licensed live, attenuated vaccine
     • Any emergency use authorized (EUA) or licensed mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

   • Within 2 weeks prior to enrollment:

     • Any licensed killed/subunit/inactivated vaccine
     • Any EUA or licensed adenoviral-vectored or protein SARS-CoV-2 vaccines Receipt of any SARS-CoV-2 vaccination series should be completed 4 weeks prior to enrollment when possible; however, exceptions may be made by approval of the HVTN 302 PSRT.
9. Initiation of antigen-based immunotherapy for allergies within the previous year (stable immunotherapy is not exclusionary); inclusion of participants who initiated immunotherapy within the previous year requires PSRT approval.
10. Receipt of investigational research agents with a half-life of 7 or fewer days within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. If a potential participant has received investigational agents with a half-life greater than 7 days (or unknown half-life) within the past year, PSRT approval is required for enrollment.
11. History of serious reaction (eg, hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis) to any vaccine or any component of the study vaccine.
12. History of myocarditis and/or pericarditis.
13. Hereditary angioedema, acquired angioedema, or idiopathic forms of angioedema.
14. Idiopathic urticaria within the past year.
15. Bleeding disorder diagnosed by a doctor (eg, factor deficiency, coagulopathy, or platelet disorder requiring special precautions).
16. Seizure disorder; febrile seizures as a child or seizures secondary to alcohol withdrawal more than 5 years ago are not exclusionary.
17. Asplenia or functional asplenia.
18. Active duty and reserve US military personnel.
19. Any other chronic or clinically significant condition that in the clinical judgement of the investigator would jeopardize the safety or rights of the study participant, including, but not limited to: clinically significant forms of drug or alcohol abuse, serious psychiatric disorders, or cancer that, in the clinical judgement of the site investigator, has a potential for recurrence (excluding basal cell carcinoma).

20. Asthma is excluded if the participant has ANY of the following:

    • Required either oral or parenteral corticosteroids for an exacerbation two or more times within the past year; OR
    • Needed emergency care, urgent care, hospitalization, or intubation for an acute asthma exacerbation within the past year (eg, would NOT exclude individuals with asthma who meet all other criteria but sought urgent/emergent care solely for asthma medication refills or co-existing conditions unrelated to asthma); OR
    • Uses a short-acting rescue inhaler more than 2 days/week for acute asthma symptoms (ie, not for preventive treatment prior to athletic activity); OR
    • Uses medium-to-high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (greater than 250 mcg fluticasone or therapeutic equivalent per day), whether in single-therapy or dual-therapy inhalers (ie, with a long-acting beta agonist [LABA]); OR
    • Uses more than one medication for maintenance therapy daily. Inclusion of anyone on a stable dose of more than one medication for maintenance therapy daily for greater than two years requires PSRT approval.
21. A participant with a history of an immune-mediated disease, either active or remote. Not exclusionary: 1) remote history of Bell's palsy (>2 years ago) not associated with other neurologic symptoms, 2) mild psoriasis that does not require ongoing systemic treatment.
22. Immunodeficiency

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Alabama

Alabama CRS [31788]

Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35222

United States, California

UCLA Vine Street Clinic CRS [31607]

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90038

United States, Massachusetts

Bidmc Vcrs [32077]

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115

Brigham and Women's Hospital Vaccine CRS [30007]

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115

United States, New York

New York Blood Center CRS [31801]

New York, New York, United States, 10065

Columbia P&S CRS [30329]

New York, New York, United States, 30329

University of Rochester Vaccines to Prevent HIV Infection CRS [31467]

Rochester, New York, United States, 14642

United States, Pennsylvania

Penn Prevention CRS [30310]

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

University of Pittsburgh CRS [1001]

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213

United States, Washington

Seattle Vaccine and Prevention CRS [30331]

Seattle, Washington, United States, 98104

Sponsors and Collaborators

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Department of Health and Human Services

Investigators

• Study Chair: Jesse Clark, MD; University of California, Los Angeles
• Study Chair: Sharon Riddler, MD; University of Pittsburgh

More Information

• Responsible Party: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05217641
• Other Study ID Numbers: HVTN 302; DAIDS-ES ID: 38791 ( Other Identifier: Division of AIDS )
• First Posted: February 1, 2022
• Last Update Posted: January 11, 2024
• Last Verified: July 2023

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Keywords provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):

Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Immune System Diseases; Immunologic Factors; Physiological Effects of Drugs

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Infections