Active Immunization of Asymptomatic, HIV-Infected Individuals With Recombinant GP160 HIV-1 Antigen: A Phase I/II Study of Immunogenicity and Toxicity

To determine the minimal effective (immunogenic) dose of vaccine in asymptomatic HIV-1 seropositive individuals with > 400 cells/mm3 (CD4). To determine the dose-response to a 4 fold escalation of the immunizing dose. To describe both cellular and humoral immune responses to HIV-1 in the immunized individuals. To describe the effects of this immunization on general immunological, virological and clinical parameters. To evaluate the safety of injecting recombinant gp160 in this population. To evaluate the extent of variability between different lots of gp160 (arms C1 and C2). It might be possible to increase immune responses or to induce new types of immune responses to HIV in some infected individuals by means of a vaccine, which could result in an immunological, virological or clinical benefit. It might be possible to increase immune responses or to induce new types of immune responses to HIV in some infected individuals by means of a vaccine, which could result in an immunological, virological or clinical benefit. ORIGINAL DESIGN: Patients are randomized to one of five groups to receive, intramuscularly, one of four dosages of gp160 or hepatitis B vaccine as a control. Treatments are given at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months and patients are followed for up to 2 years. Patients in any of the 5 groups will have the option of switching to another dosage group if an interim analysis at 6 months shows significant differences in patient response. AMENDED: 10/23/90 52 eligible patients are randomized to one of 6 study groups. Five groups of 8 individuals receive one of 4 dosage levels of gp160 (Groups A, B, C1, C2, and D), and 12 patients receive a single dosage level of hepatitis B vaccine as a control (Group E). Per 2/19/92 amendment, patients may elect to continue receiving vaccine beyond 12 months, with the doses given either every 3 months or every 6 months.