DCVax-001 is a recombinant protein vaccine designed to prevent and potentially treat human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The vaccine is composed of a fusion protein
containing a human monoclonal antibody specific for the dendritic cell receptor, DEC-205
(CD205), and the HIV gag p24 protein. The vaccine is designed to target HIV antigens directly
to endocytic pathways in dendritic cells (DCs) that allow for efficient processing and
presentation of multiple HIV peptides on both MHC class I and II products, which will induce
HIV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. This vaccine candidate must be combined with appropriate
immunostimulants (adjuvants) to induce immunity to the antigen. In the proposed clinical
trial we will use poly ICLC (Hiltonol) from Oncovir, Inc as the adjuvant.