Johnson & Johnson’s HIV vaccine trial delivers disappointing results

Last week, Johnson & Johnson announced that the HIV vaccine trial known as Imbokodo (HVTN705/HPX2008) failed to significantly reduce the risk of acquiring HIV in over 2,600 women across five sub-Saharan African countries. The initial data showed a 25% efficacy estimate, but the confidence intervals were as wide as -10.5 to 49.3%. The company also noted the high incidence of HIV amongst the trial participants.

The vaccine, based on adenovirus 26 (Ad26), was shown to be safe but its poor performance in preventing HIV means that the company does not feel that it warrants longer follow-up.

Mosaico, a Phase III trial, which was running in parallel with Imokodo, will continue. This vaccine candidate also makes use of Ad26 as the primary vaccine platform but uses a different form of protein boost. Mosaico (HVTN 706/HPX3002) is currently enrolling 3,800 men and transgender people in eight countries across the Americas and Europe.

“This is in no way the end of the search for an HIV vaccine. We still hope for a positive outcome from the ongoing Mosaico and PrEPVacc studies. Yet, now more than ever, the vaccine field needs diversity and creativity” said Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC.

Whilst there is currently no HIV vaccine, there are other effective and safe HIV prevention options: condoms, femidoms, voluntary medical male circumcision, daily oral PrEP, vaginal rings with dapivirin, injectable cabotegravir (which has shown to be equally effective for all genders), and several other options for next-generation PrEP are undergoing extended clinical trials.