Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of a malaria vaccine named Vivaxin against the protozoan Plamodium vivax in participants with no prior malaria infection
Vivaxin is being developed for use as a prophylactic vaccine against malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax, the dominant species in Brazil. The study will consist of the assessment of the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of the vaccine following intramuscular administration of three doses of 0.3 mL/dose, with a 28-day interval between each dose, in healthy participants of both sexes, aged 18 to 59 years, with no prior exposure to malaria. This will be a Phase 1, first-in-human, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the investigational product, Vivaxin vaccine. A total of 16 participants will be included in each of the 3 study arms, based on Vivaxin dose levels: 25 µg, 50 µg, and 100 µg. In each arm, 12 participants will receive the Vivaxin vaccine, and 4 participants will receive a placebo. Additionally, a sentinel cohort will be included within each arm: Arm 1 - 25 µg of Vivaxin (N=12) or placebo (N=4): Twelve participants will receive three doses of 25 µg of Vivaxin, with 28-day intervals between doses, and four participants will receive three doses of placebo, also at 28-day intervals. The first four individuals enrolled will comprise the sentinel group. Three of these will receive Vivaxin and one will receive placebo, randomized in a blinded manner. They will be observed for at least 7 days prior to proceeding with vaccination of the remaining participants in this arm. Vaccination of the remaining participants will proceed only after confirming that no study-halting criteria have been met. Arm 2 - 50 µg of Vivaxin (N=12) or placebo (N=4): Twelve participants will receive three doses of 50 µg of Vivaxin, with 28-day intervals, and four participants will receive placebo under the same schedule. The first four individuals enrolled will comprise the sentinel group (three receiving Vivaxin, one receiving placebo). They will be observed for at least 7 days before vaccination continues in this arm. Continuation is contingent upon confirmation that no halting criteria have been met. Arm 3 - 100 µg of Vivaxin (N=12) or placebo (N=4): Twelve participants will receive three doses of 100 µg of Vivaxin, spaced 28 days apart, and four participants will receive placebo at the same intervals. As with the other arms, the first four individuals enrolled will form the sentinel group and will be observed for at least 7 days before vaccination of the remaining participants in the arm is permitted, conditional on the absence of any study-halting criteria. All participants in the sentinel cohorts will be observed at the research center for 60 minutes post-vaccination (vaccine or placebo). All other participants will be observed for a minimum of 30 minutes. All participants will be followed for 360 days with regular clinical assessments, including: Telephone follow-ups on Days 1 and 3 (post-first dose), Days 29 and 31 (1 and 3 days post-second dose), Days 57 and 59 (1 and 3 days post-third dose), and monthly thereafter until study completion; In-person visits on Days 7 and 14 (1 and 2 weeks post-first dose), Day 28 (second dose), Days 35 and 42 (1 and 2 weeks post-second dose), Day 56 (third dose), Days 63 and 70 (1 and 2 weeks post-third dose), and Days 84, 120, 180, 270, and 360 post-vaccination (end of study). Participants will be sequentially enrolled and allocated to Arms 1, 2, and 3 of the study, receiving 25 µg, 50 µg, and 100 µg of the investigational product, respectively. In each arm, 12 participants will receive the Vivaxin vaccine and 4 participants will receive placebo, totaling 16 participants per arm. The first four randomized individuals in each arm will comprise the sentinel group and will be observed for at least 7 days prior to continuation of vaccination in that arm. Adverse events (AEs) from each sentinel cohort will be reviewed by the Protocol and Safety Review Team (PSRT) within 7 days following vaccination. If no halting criteria are met, vaccination of the remaining participants in the arm will proceed. After the first 14 days of follow-up of all participants in Arm 1, a blinded safety review will be conducted by the PSRT to determine whether dose escalation may proceed. If no halting criteria are observed, the PSRT will recommend study continuation. Should any halting criteria be met or any PSRT member deem it necessary, a meeting with the Independent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) will be convened. The DSMC, upon review of the safety data, may recommend continuation as planned, propose protocol modifications, or advise study suspension. This procedure will be repeated at each dose escalation stage. If the PSRT recommends proceeding, participants in Arm 2 (50 µg) will be vaccinated, beginning with the sentinel cohort of four individuals who will be observed for 7 days before continued randomization in the arm. Meanwhile, Arm 1 may continue with second and third immunizations, observing the sentinel group of each dose for 7 days prior to proceeding with full-arm administration. Upon completion of the first 14 days of follow-up in Arm 2, a safety analysis will be conducted by the PSRT to determine whether escalation to Arm 3 may proceed. As with the previous arms, the first four individuals in Arm 3 will form the sentinel group and will be observed for 7 days prior to continued vaccination in that arm.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
48
lyophilized antigen for reconstitution with the adjuvant CTVad (a squalene-based nanoemulsion), at the time of use.
adjuvant CTVad (a squalene-based nanoemulsion)
Centro de Pesquisas Clínicas (CPC) do Hospital das Clínicas (HC) da UFMG/ Filial Ebserh
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Safety and reactogenicity of adverse events (AE) in the first 14 days
Frequency and intensity of solicited AEs with a possible causal relationship or higher up to 14 days after intramuscular administration of Vivaxin vaccine.
Time frame: Day 14 after each immunization
Safety and reactogenicity of EA in the first 28 days
Frequency and intensity of unsolicited AEs with a possible causal relationship or higher up to 28 days after intramuscular administration of Vivaxin vaccine.
Time frame: Day 28 after each immunization
Safety and reactogenicity of serious AEs (SAEs) and AEs of special interest (AESI) throughout the study duration
Frequency and intensity of SAEs and AESIs throughout the study duration after intramuscular administration of Vivaxin vaccine.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 18 months
Dose selection
Selection of a safe and immunogenic dose of Vivaxin to continue clinical development.
Time frame: Day 28 after the third dose of the vaccine of all participants
Levels of IgG antibodies
Mean levels of IgG antibodies, calculated by the geometric mean of the titers against vaccine and parasitic antigens on days 7, 14, 28, 35, 42, 56, 63, 70, 84, 120, 180, 270 and 360 in relation to time 0 and placebo, by ELISA.
Time frame: Day 7, 14, 28, 35, 42, 56, 63, 70, 84, 120, 180, 270 and 360 after immunization
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