A method of amplifying activity of therapeutic vaccines including administering an effective amount of a composition including a compound that depletes or inhibits B lymphocytes to a patient sufficiently to amplify an immune reaction of T cytotoxic lymphocytes. The composition may be administered to a patient to augment the specific T cell response to a vaccine, in particulars a therapeutic vaccine, including at least one inactivated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In particular, the depleting compound may be an antibody, advantageously monoclonal, directed against transmembrane antigen CD20 of pre-B or mature B lymphocytes.
