Article
Author: Sebe, Modulakgotla ; Kistnasami, Girisha ; Nchabeleng, Maphoshane ; Modibedi, Bontle ; Ncayiya, Cleon N. ; Diaz Granados, Carlos ; Jones, Megan ; Kalonji, Dishiki ; Corey, Lawrence ; Allen, Mary ; Prigmore, Brittany ; Mapetla, Katlego S. ; Laher, Fatima ; Malahleha, Mookho ; Grove, Doug ; Barnett, Susan W. ; Moodie, Zoe ; Naicker, Nivashnee ; Huang, Yunda ; Kassim, Sheetal ; Gaffoor, Zakir ; Ramirez, Shelly ; Adonis, Tania ; Janes, Holly ; Atujuna, Millicent ; Philip, Tricia ; Kotze, Philip ; Gilbert, Peter B. ; Bekker, Linda-Gail ; Dubula, Thozama ; Mathebula, Matsontso P. ; McElrath, M. Juliana ; Garrett, Nigel ; Brumskine, William ; Kee, Jia J. ; Koutsoukos, Marguerite ; Kobane, Gladys ; Meintjes, Graeme ; Wiesner, Lubbe ; Benkeser, David ; Phogat, Sanjay ; Hejazi, Nima S. ; Van Der Meeren, Olivier ; Hural, John ; Ward, Amy M. ; Bentley, Carter ; Innes, Craig ; Makhoba, Philisiwe B. ; Sikhosana, Mpho ; Kanesa-Thasan, Niranjan ; Selepe, Pearl ; Andrasik, Michele ; Naicker, Vimla ; Gray, Glenda E. ; Lazarus, Erica ; Kublin, James G. ; Puren, Adrian ; Grunenberg, Nicole ; Mda, Pamela ; Singh, Nishanta ; Takuva, Simbarashe
BACKGROUNDA safe, effective vaccine is essential to eradicating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A canarypox-protein HIV vaccine regimen (ALVAC-HIV plus AIDSVAX B/E) showed modest efficacy in reducing infection in Thailand. An analogous regimen using HIV-1 subtype C virus showed potent humoral and cellular responses in a phase 1-2a trial in South Africa. Efficacy data and additional safety data were needed for this regimen in a larger population in South Africa.METHODSIn this phase 2b-3 trial, we randomly assigned 5404 adults without HIV-1 infection to receive the vaccine (2704 participants) or placebo (2700 participants). The vaccine regimen consisted of injections of ALVAC-HIV at months 0 and 1, followed by four booster injections of ALVAC-HIV plus bivalent subtype C gp120-MF59 adjuvant at months 3, 6, 12, and 18. The primary efficacy outcome was the occurrence of HIV-1 infection from randomization to 24 months.RESULTSIn January 2020, prespecified criteria for nonefficacy were met at an interim analysis; further vaccinations were subsequently halted. The median age of the trial participants was 24 years; 70% of the participants were women. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the vaccine and placebo groups. During the 24-month follow-up, HIV-1 infection was diagnosed in 138 participants in the vaccine group and in 133 in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.81 to 1.30; P = 0.84).CONCLUSIONSThe ALVAC-gp120 regimen did not prevent HIV-1 infection among participants in South Africa despite previous evidence of immunogenicity. (HVTN 702 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02968849.).