DAIDS A5298 Study: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Trial of the Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine to Prevent Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection in HIV-Infected Men

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Investigator: Anne Luetkemeyer, MD
Sponsor: Merck and Co., Inc.

Location(s): Brazil; Puerto Rico

Description

Men who have sex with men (MSM) have an increased risk of developing anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, which can be a risk factor for anal cancer. HIV-infected women are also at risk of anal cancer. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved quadrivalent HPV vaccine, Gardasil, at preventing anal HPV infection in HIV-infected MSM and HIV-infected women.

Anal HPV infection can be a risk factor for anal cancer, which is a common non-AIDS-defining cancer among HIV-infected MSM. Screening for anal cancer is not widely available and can be difficult to implement. People who receive the FDA-approved quadrivalent HPV vaccine, Gardasil, may have a reduced risk of developing anal HPV infection, which may in turn reduce the risk of developing anal cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine, Gardasil, at reducing the incidence of anal HPV infections in HIV-infected MSM and HIV-infected women.

This study will enroll HIV-infected MSM and HIV-infected women. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the HPV vaccine or a placebo vaccine. At the screening study visit, participants will undergo a physical examination, blood collection, anal swab procedure, oral examination, questionnaires, a high-resolution anoscopy (HRA), and if female, a pregnancy test, vaginal swab, and gynecologic exam. At the entry study visit, participants will undergo most of the procedures performed at screening (with the exception of an HRA and a gynecologic exam if female) plus a saliva test. Participants will receive the HPV vaccine or placebo as an injection into their upper arm or thigh on Day 0 and Weeks 8 and 24. Study staff will call participants 2 to 3 days after each vaccination for follow-up monitoring. Additional study visits and procedures will occur at Week 28, Week 52, and every 26 weeks thereafter for at least 3 years and for a maximum of 4 years after the last participant is enrolled in the study. Female participants will also have a gynecologic exam at screening, Week 52, and every 52 weeks thereafter; a pregnancy test at screening, baseline, Week 8, Week 24, and as indicated; and self-collected vaginal swabs at screening, entry, Week 28, Week 52, and every 26 weeks thereafter. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) will be collected from some participants at entry, Week 28, and study exit.