Phase I Protocol for the Evaluation of the Safety and Immunogenicity of Vaccination With Synthetic HIV Envelope Peptides in Patients With Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Inclusion Criteria

Patients who are seropositive, documented by a licensed ELISA with a confirmatory Western
blot assay for HIV with greater than or equal to 500 CD4+ cells/mm(3) at the time of
screening who also meet either of the 2 following criteria:

During acute infection there is no lower limit for the CD4 count (acute infection is
defined for this protocol as the 6 month period after diagnosis of HIV seropositivity in a
patient with documented negative HIV serology within the 6 months prior to diagnosis of
HIV seropositivity) OR;

If there is a history of CD4 count less than 300 cells/mm(s) at any point after initial
HIV seropositive diagnosis patient will not be eligible, unless this count was during the
time of acute infection.

Ambulatory status, and ability and willingness to give informed consent.

Must be over 18 years old and have an estimated life expectancy of more than 12 months.

Hgb greater than or equal to 12 g/dl for men and 11 gm/dl for women.

ANC greater than or equal to 1000/mm(3).

Creatinine greater than or equal to 1.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance greater than 50
ml/min.

LFT: AST and ALT less than or equal to 3x upper limit of normal IU/ml for enrollment.
Alkaline phosphatase less than or equal to 2.5x ULN.

Bilirubin within normal limits, except for known Gilbert's Syndrome or if patient is on
protease inhibitor therapy. For patients on protease inhibitor therapy, direct bilirubin
less than or equal to 0.3 mg/dl and indirect bilirubin less than or equal to 4.5 mg/dl.

Patients must be willing to comply with a medical regimen of highly active antiretroviral
therapy, and must be on a stable antiretroviral regimen for a minimum of 4 weeks prior to
the first vaccination.

Patients should not be receiving antiretroviral therapy or should not have received
antiretroviral therapy within 6 months.

Patients without actual or suspected allergies to any component of vaccine.

No prior vaccines for HIV.

Patients should not have received treatment with the following meds at study entry or
within preceding 3 months - agents with immunomodulating activity, parenteral therapies,
HIV drugs, vaccines, interferons, corticosteroids, any growth factors.

No prior Aids defining OI.

No active life threatening infection.

No severe malabsorption.

No evidence of Kaposi Sarcoma or other tumor - likely to require cytotoxic antitumor
therapy within 6 months of entering study. Must complete acute therapy for infections at
least 14 days prior to entry.

No pregnancy. Female patients of child bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy
test prior to vaccine administration. Males and females must agree to use effective birth
control methods during the course of vaccination.

No patients in whom there is a medical contraindication or potential problems in complying
with the requirements of the protocol.