This study evaluated the safety, immunogenicity, and preliminary assessment of efficacy of a novel vaccine encoding conserved elements (CE) of the HIV-1 Gag core protein, p24Gag, as a therapeutic vaccine in HIV-1 infected persons who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART).~The study randomly assigned participants to one of three groups. Participants in Arm 1 received p24CE1/2 pDNA vaccine at Weeks 0 and 4, followed by p24CE1/2 pDNA admixed with full-length p55^gag pDNA vaccine at Weeks 12 and 24. Participants in Arm 2 received full-length p55^gag pDNA vaccine at Weeks 0, 4, 12, and 24. Participants in Arm 3 received placebo at Weeks 0, 4, 12, and 24.~Study visits occurred at Weeks 0, 4, 6, 12, 24, 26, and 48 and included physical examinations and blood and urine collection. Some participants underwent leukapheresis and stool sample collection.
This study evaluated the safety, immunogenicity, and preliminary assessment of efficacy of a novel vaccine encoding conserved elements (CE) of the HIV-1 Gag core protein, p24Gag, as a therapeutic vaccine in HIV-1 infected persons who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The study aimed to induce potent virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses.