Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy females, as assessed by a medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests;
Aged at least 18 years on the day of screening and no greater than 50 years on the day of the first vaccination.
VZV-seropositive, as assessed by the Vitek Immunodiagnostic Assay System (VIDAS) assay.
Ability to comply with the study requirements and available for follow-up for the planned duration of the study.
In the opinion of the Principal Investigator or designee, the volunteer has understood the information provided and signed the consent document.
Willing to undergo HIV testing, HIV counseling and to receive HIV test results three times during the study.
For women with potential to become pregnant, willing to use effective contraception or barrier methods, such as oral, patch, injectable, implant, ring contraceptives or intrauterine device to avoid pregnancy during the study (spermicide are not allowed).

Exclusion Criteria:

Any relevant abnormality on history or examination that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or designee, is clinically significant, and/or:

A high risk for HIV-acquisition defined by the experience of any of the follow situations:

Had unprotected vaginal or anal sex with a known HIV-1-infected person, a person known to be at high risk for HIV or a casual partner (i.e., no continuing, established relationship) within the previous 6 months;
Engaged in sex work for money or drugs within the previous 6 months;
Used injection drugs in the last 12 months;
Abuse of illicit or prescribed drugs, including alcohol;
Acquired one of the following sexually transmitted infection: chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis in the last 12 months;
More than 1 sexual partner within the last 6 months;
New sexual partner within the last 3 months.
Persistent or recurrent bacterial vaginosis or vaginal candidiasis unresponsive to therapy (2 consecutive attempts by study team).
Confirmed HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection.
Any clinically significant acute or chronic medical condition that is considered progressive or, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or designee, would make the volunteer unsuitable for the study (active or underlying diabetes, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, malignancy, neurological, psychiatric, metabolic, renal, hepatic, respiratory, auto-immune diseases, psoriasis, primary and acquired immunodeficiency status and rectal problems).
Significant laboratory abnormalities, including coagulation (International Normalised Ratio- INR <1.0 or > 1.5).
A positive pregnancy test or breast-feeding at screening; for the participants with reproductive potential, unwilling to use an effective method of preventing pregnancy during the study.
Receipt of vaccine within the previous 2 months or planned receipt at any time until 6 months after vaccination with live-attenuated VZV vaccine.
Receipt of blood transfusion or blood products within the previous 6 months.
Participation in another interventional clinical trial currently or within the previous 3 months.
History of severe or very severe local or systemic reactogenicity events after vaccination, history of severe or very severe allergic reactions, or history of anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction to neomycin.
History of toxic shock syndrome.
Confirmed diagnosis of acute or chronic hepatitis B virus infection (spontaneous clearance leading to natural immunity, indicated by antibodies to core + antigens, is not an exclusion criterion); confirmed diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection.
Immunosuppressive medications 30 days before or during the study period.
Major psychiatric illness including any history of schizophrenia or severe psychosis, bipolar disorder, suicidal attempt or ideation in the previous 3 years.
Contra-indication for undergoing a biopsy due to bleeding diathesis, haemorrhoids, mucosal infection at the biopsy site, medication that interfere with clotting (e.g. warfarin or heparin) - both clinical and laboratory.