Cape Town – South African researchers have enrolled the first group of HIV-negative volunteers in a groundbreaking HIV vaccine trial, aiming to target strains of the virus prevalent in Southern Africa. The BRILLIANT 011 study was launched at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation site at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.
The trial forms part of the BRILLIANT Consortium, a pan-African initiative launched in 2024 that brings together researchers from South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique. The consortium is predominantly led by African women scientists and seeks to develop novel HIV vaccines specifically for African populations.
Professor Glenda Gray, a researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, said the trial is exploring the vaccine’s potential both as a preventative measure and as a contributor to long-term HIV treatment strategies.
“So we’re trying to do two things. But in both people living with HIV and people not living with HIV, we’re trying to induce these broadly neutralising antibodies that will contain and neutralise the virus. And so once we see that this vaccine works, we want both prevention, that’s very important for us because we do need to stop HIV acquisition. But at the same time, if we can contribute to a cure, it’ll help us alleviate the long-term management of people who have to use ARVs for the rest of their lives,” she said.
The BRILLIANT 011 trial is the first African-led clinical study under the consortium and comes after U.S. funding cuts threatened to delay the project. Leadership from Professor Gray, Professor Linda Gail Bekker, Professor Penny Moore, and Professor Nigel Garrett ensured the study could proceed through new investments and rapid mobilization of resources.
The trial tests two vaccine components — BG505 GT1.1 and 426c.Mod.Core-C4b — administered with the SMNP adjuvant. These immunogens are the result of collaborations with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, the Scripps Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development, and Amsterdam University Medical Centers.
Professor Gray said the study is intensive, involving detailed blood sampling to monitor how the immune system responds to the vaccine. “We are taking a lot of blood to try and see how the immune system works. We do single cell analytics on single cells. This allows us to image our immune response and, if needed, make better vaccines,” she said.
Professor Gray explained the focus on African strains of HIV, noting that most vaccines historically targeted Clade B strains common in Europe and the Americas, while Southern Africa faces predominantly Clade C infections. “The vaccine regimens we’re using are derived from breakthrough infections in South Africa and East Africa. These immunogens have been designed to be tropic to Africa, supporting regional efforts,” she said.
Funding for the study is provided by the South African Medical Research Council and the Gates Foundation. The initial trial includes 20 participants at a single site, a scaled-down version of an originally planned multi-country study involving 60 participants.
Professor Penny Moore said the trial not only advances HIV vaccine design but also builds immunology expertise in South Africa, preparing researchers for other pathogens and potential outbreaks. Professor Nigel Garrett confirmed the first participant had been enrolled.
“This is a first-in-human, first-in-Africa study where we are trying to induce neutralizing antibodies in people who we vaccinate. If the vaccine shows a good immune response, we will proceed to larger studies and optimize the vaccination regimen,” Professor Gray said.
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