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Merck 027 is a Phase IIa dose refinement study. The purpose of the study is to compare different dosages of the Merck and Co., Inc. Adenovirus Serotype 5 HIV-1 gag/pol/nef vaccine. (The same vaccine being tested in the Merck 023 HIV Vaccine Study).

Further vaccinations in the Merck and Co., Inc. vaccine study have been stopped because a recent analysis showed that the vaccine does not work.
Unfortunately, the vaccine did not reduce the incidence of HIV infection and did not reduce the amount of virus in people who became infected with HIV.
Despite these disappointing results, the current plan is to continue following current study volunteers to monitor their health and offer them HIV testing and counseling. The information we will learn may provide key insights that can guide future HIV vaccine development.
As always we would like to thank our volunteers and the community for supporting our research. Finding an HIV vaccine can only move forward with the commitment of dedicated volunteers.
Click here to read the Press Release from Merck and Co., Inc and the HIV Vaccine Trials Network.

Patient Population

  • HIV-negative men and women in good general health between the ages of 18 and 50.

Study Objective

  • To compare different dosages of the Merck Adenovirus Serotype 5 HIV-1 gag/pol/nef vaccine.

Duration: 9 months on study

Phase IIa dose-refinement study

Click here to download Frequently Asked Questions about this Vaccine Study.

Study Scheme
The purpose of this study is to compare different dosages of the vaccine to find out, if the vaccine is shown to be effective in other studies, what the optimal dosage is. All volunteers in this study receive one of three dosages of the same vaccine. All volunteers will receive vaccine. There is no placebo.

You cannot get HIV or AIDS from receiving this vaccine.

For information, please call 212-263-0362.

Study Status: Closed to Enrollment

Study Staff

  • Michael Marmor, PhD
  • Demetre Daskalakis, MD
  • Robert Hagerty
  • Gary Carlisle, RN
  • Richard Hutt, RN
  • Richard Silvera
  • Alith Maillard
  • Dylan Stein

Study Sponsors:

  • Industry

Study Volunteers Receive

  • the opportunity to participate in cutting edge vaccine research
  • frequent HIV testing and risk reduction counseling
  • reimbursement for time