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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Safety and Immunogenicity of Ad4-HIV Envelope Vaccine Vectors in Healthy Volunteers

Phase I Open-Label Study of Safety and Immunogenicity of AD4-HIV Envelope Vaccine Vectors in Healthy Volunteers

Safety and Immunogenicity of Ad4-HIV Envelope Vaccine Vectors in Healthy Volunteers (NCT03878121) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Healthy Volunteer, sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Background: Researchers want see if three new HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) vaccines are safe. Two vaccines are carried by live adenoviruses, which are natural and typically cause cold symptoms or an eye infection. Researchers want to see if all the vaccines help fight HIV and if the adenoviruses are contagious. Objectives: To test the safety and effects of three new HIV vaccines. Eligibility: Healthy adults 18-49 years old (vaccinees) Their household and intimate contacts 18-65 years old Design: Vaccinees will be screened with: Physical exam Medical history Blood and urine tests Questions about HIV risk Vaccinees will learn how to prevent spreading the viruses and about required contraception during the study. Vaccinees will get consent forms for their household and intimate contacts. All contacts must be age 18-65. All intimate contacts must sign a consent form. Contacts will have 4 visits over 8 months for blood tests and a physical exam. All applicable participants will have a pregnancy test at every visit. Vaccinees will have about 9 visits over 12 months. They will repeat screening tests and get: 1 of the 2 adenovirus vaccines sprayed in the nose at 2 visits The booster vaccine by needle in an arm at 1 visit Nasal swabs taken at some visits Vaccinees will note their temperature and symptoms for at least 1-4 weeks after each vaccine. Vaccinees may choose to have: Leukapheresis. Blood will be removed by needle in a vein in one arm. A machine will remove white blood cells. The rest of the blood will be returned into the other arm. Small pieces of the tonsil removed Sponsoring Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ...

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Healthy Volunteer, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

A target enrollment of 300 participants makes this a sizable late-stage trial. Studies in this range typically have enough power to detect clinically meaningful differences from a comparator and to characterize less-common side effects.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

* Who May Qualify: All participants (vaccinees, household contacts, and intimate contacts) must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Age 18 to 49 years for vaccinees. Age 18 to 65 years for household and intimate contacts. 2. Negative FDA-approved HIV test. 3. Available and willing to participate in follow-up visits and tests for the duration of the study. 4. Willing to have samples stored for future research. The following inclusion criteria apply to vaccinees and intimate contacts, but not to household contacts: 1. In good general health without clinically significant medical history. 2. Assessed as low risk for HIV infection by agreeing to discuss HIV infection risks with the study clinicians, agreeing to HIV risk reduction counseling, and agreeing to avoid behavior associated with high risk of HIV exposure through the last required clinic visit in the protocol schedule. 3. Negative beta-HCG pregnancy test for females presumed to be of reproductive potential. 4. Female vaccinees and male intimate contacts must meet one of the following criteria: -The female vaccinee has no reproductive potential because of menopause (1 year without menses) or because of a hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, medically-documented ovarian failure, or tubal ligation. or -The female vaccinee and her male intimate contact(s) agree to be heterosexually inactive or consistently practice contraception at least 21 days prior to each vaccination through 21 days following each vaccination. Acceptable methods of contraception include any of the following: - condoms, male or female, with a spermicide. - diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide. - contraceptive pills, Norplant, or Depo-Provera (and is not on any medications that would interfere with the effectiveness of these contraceptive agents). - male partner has previously undergone a vasectomy for which there is documentation. - intrauterine device. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: All participants (vaccinees, household contacts, and intimate contacts) must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Age 18 to 49 years for vaccinees. Age 18 to 65 years for household and intimate contacts. 2. Negative FDA-approved HIV test. 3. Available and willing to participate in follow-up visits and tests for the duration of the study. 4. Willing to have samples stored for future research. The following inclusion criteria apply to vaccinees and intimate contacts, but not to household contacts: 1. In good general health without clinically significant medical history. 2. Assessed as low risk for HIV infection by agreeing to discuss HIV infection risks with the study clinicians, agreeing to HIV risk reduction counseling, and agreeing to avoid behavior associated with high risk of HIV exposure through the last required clinic visit in the protocol schedule. 3. Negative beta-HCG pregnancy test for females presumed to be of reproductive potential. 4. Female vaccinees and male intimate contacts must meet one of the following criteria: -The female vaccinee has no reproductive potential because of menopause (1 year without menses) or because of a hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, medically-documented ovarian failure, or tubal ligation. or -The female vaccinee and her male intimate contact(s) agree to be heterosexually inactive or consistently practice contraception at least 21 days prior to each vaccination through 21 days following each vaccination. Acceptable methods of contraception include any of the following: * condoms, male or female, with a spermicide. * diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide. * contraceptive pills, Norplant, or Depo-Provera (and is not on any medications that would interfere with the effectiveness of these contraceptive agents). * male partner has previously undergone a vasectomy for which there is documentation. * intrauterine device. 5. Male vaccinees and female intimate contacts must agree to consistently practice abstinence or effective birth control (described above) and for 21 days following each vaccination. The following inclusion criteria apply only to vaccinees and not to household or intimate contacts: 1. Willing to receive HIV test results and abide by NIH guidelines for partner notification of positive HIV results. 2. Physical examination and laboratory results without clinically significant findings within the 8 weeks prior to enrollment. 3. Willing to avoid other investigational and/or HIV vaccinations, other than the study agent, from screening through the end-of-study visit. 4. Safety laboratory criteria within 8 weeks prior to enrollment: * Hematologic: * White blood cell count and lymphocyte count within 25% of both the lower limit and upper limit of normal for the NIH CC * Platelet count of least 150,000/mm\^3. * Hemoglobin count within 10% of both the lower limit and upper limit of normal for the NIH CC * Renal: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) \<23 mg/dL; creatinine within normal limits for the NIH CC * Hepatic: Serum direct bilirubin within normal limits for the NIH CC * Metabolic: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<2 times upper limit of normal range for the NIH CC * Additional laboratory criteria: * Immunologic: No history of hypogammaglobulinemia. * Serologic: Ad4 neutralizing antibody 80% inhibitory dilution \<1:100. (This criterion does not apply to participants in Arm B.) 5. Willing to follow precautions for preventing the spread of adenovirus in the community. 6. Males must agree not to donate sperm for 21 days following each study vaccination. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: A participant (vaccinees, household contacts, and intimate contacts) will be excluded if they have the following: 1\. Any condition that, in the investigator's judgement, places the subject at undue risk by participating in the study. The following exclusion criteria apply to vaccinees and intimate contacts, but not to household contacts: 1. History of any prior disease or therapy which would affect immune or pulmonary function. 2. Prior malignancy, except curatively-treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix. 3. History of radiation therapy or cytotoxic/cancer chemotherapy. 4. History of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM). Type 2 DM controlled with diet alone (and confirmed by HgbA1c \<= 8% within the last 6 months) or a history of isolated gestational diabetes are not exclusionary. Enrollment of individuals with Type 2 DM that is well controlled on hypoglycemic agent(s) may be considered on a case-by-case basis, provided that the HgbA1c is \<= 8% within the last 6 months 5. Immunodeficiency or autoimmune disease. 6. Acute infection or a recent history (within 6 months) of chronic infection suggestive of immunodeficiency. 7. Taking any glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressive medications. 8. Asthma is excluded if the participant has ANY of the following: 1. Required either oral or parenteral corticosteroids for an exacerbation 2 or more times within the past year, OR 2. Needed emergency care, urgent care, hospitalization, or intubation for an acute asthma exacerbation within the past year (eg, would NOT exclude individuals with asthma who meet all other criteria but sought urgent/emergent care solely for asthma medication refills or co-existing conditions unrelated to asthma); OR 3. Uses a short-acting rescue inhaler more than 2 days/week for acute asthma symptoms (i.e., not for preventive treatment prior to athletic activity); OR 4. Uses medium-to-high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (greater than 250 mcg fluticasone or therapeutic equivalent per day), whether in single-therapy or dual-therapy inhalers (i.e., with a long-acting beta agonist), OR 5. Uses more than 1 medication for maintenance therapy daily. Inclusion of anyone on a stable dose of more than 1 medication for maintenance therapy daily for greater than 2 years requires OCRPRO Clinical Safety Office approval. 9. Other chronic respiratory disorders including emphysema, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, recurrent pneumonia, or recent or ongoing respiratory tract infection. If a respiratory disorder is transient, the study vaccination may be deferred without excluding the participant. 10. Female of childbearing potential who is breast-feeding or planning pregnancy during the period from enrollment through 21 days following the last study vaccination. The following exclusion criteria apply only to vaccinees and not to household or intimate contacts: 1. Any medical, psychiatric, or social condition, or occupational or other responsibility that, in the judgment of the investigator, would interfere with or serve as a contraindication to receipt of live virus vaccine, protocol adherence, or a participant's ability to give informed consent. 2. Psychiatric condition that precludes compliance with the protocol; past or present psychoses; past or present bipolar disorder requiring therapy that has not been well controlled on medication for the past two years; disorder requiring lithium; or suicidal ideation occurring within five years prior to enrollment. 3. Individuals that live in the same house or apartment with any of the following will be excluded: 1. An individual under 18 years of age. 2. An elderly individual (\>65 years of age). 3. An immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individual. 4. An individual with chronic respiratory disease. 5. A woman who is currently pregnant or breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy during the period of vaccination. 4. Individuals who provide hands-on care to immunodeficient, unstable, elderly, or children \<18 years of age within 21 days following each of the first and second vaccination timepoints. 5. Receipt of any of the following: * Antiviral medications within 30 days prior to vaccination. * Blood products within 120 days prior to HIV screening. * Immunoglobulin within 60 days prior to HIV screening. * Investigational research drugs or any other investigational agent that in the judgement of the Principal Investigator might interact with the study vaccine within 30 days prior to initial study vaccine administration. * Allergy treatment with antigen injections within 30 days of study vaccine administration. 6. Active hepatitis B or C infection (i.e., hepatitis B or C positive serology with the presence of virus antigen or DNA). Ongoing viral replication will be confirmed by a hepatitis B antigen test or hepatitis C viral load. 7. History of Guillain-Barre syndrome. 8. Indeterminate HIV Western blot test. 9. Prior receipt of the Merck Ad5-based HIV vaccine.

Treatments Being Tested

BIOLOGICAL

Ad4-Env145NFL

10\^8 vp doses of Ad4-Env145NFL formulated as a liquid for intranasal administration.

BIOLOGICAL

Ad4-Env150KN

10\^8 vp doses of Ad4-Env150KN formulated as a liquid for intranasal administration.

BIOLOGICAL

VRC-HIVRGP096-00-VP (Trimer 4571) with alum

500-mcg dose of protein boost vaccine formulated for intramuscular administration.

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03878121), the sponsor (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT03878121 clinical trial studying?

Background: Researchers want see if three new HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) vaccines are safe. Two vaccines are carried by live adenoviruses, which are natural and typically cause cold symptoms or an eye infection. Researchers want to see if all the vaccines help fight HIV and if the adenoviruses are contagious. Objectives: To test the safety and effects of three new HIV vaccines. Eligibility: Healthy adults 18-49 years old (vaccinees) Their household and intimate contacts 18-65 years old Design: Vaccinees will be screened with: Physical exam Medical history Blood and urine tes… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT03878121?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT03878121?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT03878121. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03878121. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.