TaMoVac II

HIV vaccine trial capacity building in Tanzania and Mozambique by continued exploration of optimal DNA priming and MVA boosting strategies

Exploring new strategies for needle free vaccination

What was this study about?

It is estimated that over 33 million people are living with HIV around the world. There is currently no cure and although there are drugs available that can manage HIV, the majority of infected people are unable to access treatment. In 2009 it was estimated that 2.7 million people became newly-infected worldwide.

Therefore, developing a vaccine is a main priority in HIV research and although many options have been explored, an effective vaccine has yet to be developed.

Previous studies have shown that using an electric current instead of a needle to administer a vaccine can be more efficient.

This study tested this method to administer a DNA plasmid vaccine which had already been tested using more conventional methods in several trials including TaMoVacc I. It assessed whether the method is safe and also whether this route gave rise to a better immune response against HIV.

What difference did this study make?

The method was well tolerated and boosted the immune response to HIV core proteins but it did not have an impact on the response to HIV envelope proteins. Combining the plasmids did not compromise the immune response. Co-administration of the MVA and CN54gp140 was well tolerated and significantly enhanced the response to HIV envelope proteins. The results from this trial helped to inform the regimen to take forward to a large trial to test for effectiveness, called PrEPVacc.

Here is a link to the publication.

 

 

Type of study

Randomised trial

Contact details

mrcctu.ctuenquiries@ucl.ac.uk

Who funded the study?

EDCTP

When did it take place?

November 2012-June 2015.

Where did it take place?

Tanzania (Mbeya, Dar es Salaam), and Mozambique (Maputo).

Who was included?

211 healthy, HIV uninfected adults, at low risk of HIV infection.