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HIV Therapeutic DNA Vaccine (ICVAX) Phase I Clinical Trial in Hong Kong

HIV Therapeutic DNA Vaccine (ICVAX) Phase I Clinical Trial in Hong Kong: Evaluation of Immunogenicity and Safety of ICVAX in ART-treated Clinically Stable HIV-infected Patients

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07530198
Enrollment
22
Registered
2026-04-15
Start date
2026-03-30
Completion date
2027-07-31
Last updated
2026-04-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus I Infection

Keywords

ICVAX, HIV, AIDS, DNA Vaccine

Brief summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the HIV Therapeutic DNA Vaccine (ICVAX) in participants with HIV-1 infection under antiretroviral therapy (ART). The study compares three delivery methods - Teresa -EPT I, PharmaJet Tropis, and PapiVax TriGrid EP - to induce antigen-specific T cell responses in the participants. The primary objectives are to evaluate the safety of ICVAX delivered using three different devices in the participants within the period Day 0-Day 336, and to evaluate the antigen-specific T cell responses induced by ICVAX in the participants within the period Day 0-Day 168. The participants will receive four injections of ICVAX administered at 4-week intervals. Following the final dose, participants will be monitored for 36 weeks.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALICVAX (TERESA-EPT I device)

ICVAX is a HIV therapeutic DNA drug developed by Immuno Cure Group based on the PD-1-Enhanced DNA Vaccine Technology platform. ICVAX will be administered intramuscularly followed by electroporation using the TERESA-EPT I device.

BIOLOGICALICVAX (PharmaJet Tropis device)

ICVAX will be administered intradermally using the PharmaJet Tropis device.

BIOLOGICALICVAX (TriGrid device)

ICVAX will be administered intramuscularly followed by electroporation using the TriGrid device.

Sponsors

Immuno Cure Holding (HK) Limited
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY
Immuno Cure 1 Limited
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
The University of Hong Kong
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Tested positive for HIV-1 antibody; 2. Aged 18-60, both male and female; 3. BMI (body mass index) in between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2 (including upper and lower limits); 4. Received ART for ≥12 months; no drug resistance occurred during this treatment period; 5. Had \<50 copies/ml of plasma HIV RNA for at least (≥) 12 months prior to screening visit; 6. Had ≥350 cells/μL of CD4+ T cells in the past 6 months and \>200 cells/μL of CD4+ T cells before initiation of ART; 7. Adopted contraception method approved by the investigator from screening period until the end of study; 8. Understand the study and voluntarily sign the ICF.

Exclusion criteria

1. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or those who plan to give birth in coming two years (including the subject and his/her spouse); 2. ART has been suspended for more than 2 weeks continuously since ART initiation; 3. Participated in other clinical trials within 24 weeks before the screening visit; 4. Has any opportunistic infections or opportunistic tumors that require systemic treatment within 30 days before being recruited; Has any medical events that the investigator believes will affect the safety and immunogenicity evaluation of the drug; 5. Has a history of autoimmune diseases; Has hypersensitivity to the components of this drug including ICVAX recombinant plasmid, NaCl, Na2HPO4 and NaH2PO4·H2O, and shows severe allergies, such as dyspnea, edema and other symptoms after administration; 6. Received approved vaccines within the past 3 months; 7. Received any blood products, immunoglobulin products, or immunosuppressants within 12 weeks before being recruited; 8. Used interferon, systemic corticosteroids, or other immunosuppressants within the last 3 months (except local application); 9. Positive Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) within 12 months, or positive Hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV Ab) at screening with confirmatory HCV RNA positive; 10. Has any abnormal laboratory results including: neutrophil \<1×109/L, serum creatinine \> ULN, ALT or AST \>1.5×ULN, hemoglobin \< 11g/dL; 11. Has any medical history or clinical manifestations of any physical or mental illness that may affect the subject's completion of this study; 12. Sensitive to electrical pulse stimulation, such as those who are implanted with pacemaker/ Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD), or those who have wearable medical electronic devices including electrocardiogram; 13. Needle phobia; 14. Have contraindications for intramuscular administration such as confirmed thrombocytopenia, any coagulation dysfunction or currently receiving anticoagulation therapy; 15. The investigator considers that he/she is not suitable to participate in this trial.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Safety of ICVAXDay 0-Day 336To evaluate the incidence of adverse events and abnormal laboratory results within the period Day 0-Day 336.
Antigen-specific T Cell Response Induced by ICVAXDay 0-Day 168To evaluate the antigen-specific T cell responses induced by ICVAX within the period Day 0-Day 168 via ELISpot.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Humoral Immune Response of ICVAXDay 0-Day 336To evaluate humoral immune response of ICVAX within the period Day 0-Day 336 via ELISA.
Effect of ICVAX-ART Combined Treatment on Viral ReservoirDay 0-Day 336To evaluate the effect of ICVAX-ART combined treatment on the viral reservoir within the period Day 0-Day 336 via PCR.

Countries

Hong Kong

Contacts

CONTACTGrace Chung Yan Lui, Dr.
gracelui@cuhk.edu.hk(852) 5569 9539
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORGrace Chung Yan Lui, Dr.

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 16, 2026