PfSPZ Vaccine: Dose Optimization With Heterologous Challenge in Healthy Malaria-Naïve Adults

NCT ID: NCT02601716

Last Updated: 2018-10-16

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

92 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-01-31

Study Completion Date

2017-11-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This is an open-label evaluation of the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity and efficacy of PfSPZ Vaccine administered by direct venous inoculation (DVI) in healthy, malaria-naïve adult subjects.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The study will be conducted as a collaborative effort between the NMRC, UMB CVD, WRAIR and Sanaria, Inc. The study screening, immunizations, and follow-ups for Groups 1 \& 2 will take place at the UMB CVD. The study screening, immunizations, and follow-ups for Groups 3 \& 4 will take place at the NMRC CTC in Bethesda, MD. The controlled human malaria infections (CHMI) will be conducted at WRAIR Entomology, Silver Spring, MD for NMRC subjects, and at UMB CVD for UMB CVD subjects.

There will be 4 groups and a total of 92 subjects (60 immunized subjects and 32 infectivity controls). Group 1 (n = 15) subjects will receive PfSPZ Vaccine administered by direct venous inoculation (DVI), with 4 doses of 4.5 x 10\^5 PfSPZ given every two days, followed by a single, boosting dose of 4.5 x 10\^5 PfSPZ given 16 weeks later. For participants who were not protected after the first CHMI, an additional boosting dose of 4.5x10\^5 PfSPZ will be given 21 weeks later.

Group 2 (n = 15) subjects will receive PfSPZ Vaccine administered by DVI, with 3 doses of 9.0 x 10\^5 PfSPZ administered every 8 weeks. For participants who were not protected after the first CHMI, a boosting dose of 9.0 x 10\^5 PfSPZ will be given 21 weeks later.

Group 3 (n = 15) subjects will receive PfSPZ Vaccine administered by DVI, with 3 doses of 18 x 10\^5 PfSPZ administered every 8 weeks. Following CHMI at 40 weeks, protected subjects and one-half of unprotected subjects will receive a final, boosting dose of 18 x 10\^5 PfSPZ. The remaining half of unprotected subjects will receive a final, boosting dose of 4.5 x 10\^5 PfSPZ.

Group 4 (n = 15) subjects will receive PfSPZ Vaccine administered by DVI, with 27 x 10\^5 PfSPZ administered once as a priming dose, followed by 2 doses of 9.0 x 10\^5 PfSPZ administered every 8 weeks. Following CHMI at 40 weeks, protected subjects and one-half of unprotected subjects will receive a final, boosting dose of 9 x 10\^5 PfSPZ. The remaining half of unprotected subjects will receive a final, boosting dose of 2.25 x 10\^5 PfSPZ.

Protective efficacy will be assessed by CHMI, conducted by exposure to the bites of three to five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (7G8 or NF135.C10) Pf parasites, with the number of mosquitoes depending on the infection intensity in the mosquitoes). At UMB CVD, protective efficacy will be assessed at both 28 and 40 weeks after the first immunization, in Groups 1 and 2, along with 8 infectivity controls for each CHMI. At NMRC, protective efficacy will be assessed at 40 weeks (7G8 infected mosquitoes), and 66 weeks (NF135.C10 infected mosquitoes) after the first immunization, in Groups 3 and 4. Unprotected subjects in Groups 1 and 2, and all subjects in Groups 3 and 4, will be invited to receive a booster vaccination 21 days prior to the second CHMI at the respective sites, in order to assess the efficacy of a booster dose in previously vaccinated persons. These vaccine subjects may participate in the second CHMI whether or not they were protected in the first CHMI, and independent of their decision to receive the booster immunization, to serve as controls for the effect of the first CHMI on immunity. Subjects may proceed to CHMI provided they have received at least two of the three immunizations scheduled for Groups 2-4, or at least two of the four priming immunizations as well as the boost scheduled for Group 1. 7G8-infected mosquitoes may be substituted for NF135.C10 mosquitoes in case of difficulties with mosquito production.

Two subjects in each group will serve as "pilot subjects" in the event of first in human dosing, and will be immunized approximately 24 hours prior to the rest of the subjects in the respective group. If there are no safety concerns identified in the pilot subjects that trigger the stopping rules, then the remainder of subjects will be immunized the day after the pilot subjects are immunized. Subjects will be followed for 56 days beyond both the week 40 and week 66 CHMIs.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Malaria

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Group 1

Group 1 subjects (n=15) will receive 4 doses of PfSPZ Vaccine (4.5 x 10\^5 PfSPZ/dose) every 2 days, followed by a single, boosting dose (same dose as before) given 16 weeks later, for a total PfSPZ dose = 22.5 x 10\^5. PfSPZ Vaccine administered by DVI.

Protective efficacy assessed by heterologous CHMI (7G8) Pf parasites at 28 and 40 weeks after the first immunization, along with 8 infectivity controls. Subjects may proceed to CHMI if they have received at least 2 of 4 priming immunizations and the boost scheduled for Group 1. Participants not protected after the first CHMI will be invited to receive a booster vaccination (4.5 x 10\^5 PfSPZ) 21 days prior to the second CHMI. Subjects may participate in the second CHMI whether or not they were protected in the 1st CHMI, to serve as controls for the effect of the 1st CHMI on immunity.

Subjects will be followed for 56 days beyond the final CHMI (post-immunization week 40).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

PfSPZ Vaccine

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Aseptic, purified, cryopreserved, radiation-attenuated, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites

CHMI (7G8)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (7G8) Pf parasites.

Group 2

Subjects (n=15) will receive 3 doses of PfSPZ Vaccine (9.0 x 10\^5 PfSPZ/dose) every 8 weeks, total PfSPZ dose = 27 x 10\^5. PfSPZ Vaccine administered by DVI.

Protective efficacy assessed by heterologous CHMI (7G8) Pf parasites at 28 and 40 weeks after first immunization, along with 8 infectivity controls. Subjects may proceed to CHMI if they have received at least 2 of 3 immunizations scheduled for Group 2. Participants not protected after the first CHMI will be invited to receive a booster vaccination (9.0 x 10\^5 PfSPZ) 21 days prior to the second CHMI. Subjects may participate in the second CHMI whether or not they were protected in the 1st CHMI, to serve as controls for the effect of the 1st CHMI on immunity.

Subjects will be followed for 56 days beyond the final CHMI (post-immunization week 40).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

PfSPZ Vaccine

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Aseptic, purified, cryopreserved, radiation-attenuated, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites

CHMI (7G8)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (7G8) Pf parasites.

Group 3

Group 3 subjects (n=15) will receive 3 doses of PfSPZ Vaccine (18 x 10\^5 PfSPZ/dose) every 8 weeks for a total PfSPZ dose of 54 x 10\^5. PfSPZ Vaccine administered by DVI.

Protective efficacy assessed by CHMI with heterologous (7G8, NF135.C10) Pf parasites at 40 and 66 weeks after the first immunization, along with 8 infectivity controls. Subjects may proceed to CHMI if they have received at least 2 of 3 immunizations scheduled for Group 3. All participants will be invited to receive a booster vaccination (18 x 10\^5 PfSPZ) 21 days prior to the second CHMI. Subjects may participate in the second CHMI whether or not they were protected in the 1st CHMI, to serve as controls for the effect of the 1st CHMI on immunity.

Subjects will be followed for 56 days beyond the final CHMI (post-immunization week66).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

PfSPZ Vaccine

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Aseptic, purified, cryopreserved, radiation-attenuated, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites

CHMI (7G8)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (7G8) Pf parasites.

CHMI (NF135.C10)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of three to five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (NF135.C10) Pf parasites.

Group 4

Subjects (n=15) will receive a single, priming dose of PfSPZ Vaccine (27 x 10\^5 PfSPZ/dose), followed by 2 additional immunizations (9.0 x 10\^5 PfSPZ per dose) every 8 weeks, total PfSPZ dose = 45 x 10\^5. PfSPZ Vaccine administered by DVI.

Protective efficacy assessed by CHMI with heterologous 7G8 and NF135.C10 Pf parasites at 40 and 66 weeks, respectively, along with 8 infectivity controls at each CHMI. Subjects may proceed to CHMI if they have received at least 2 of 3 immunizations scheduled for Group 4. All participants will be invited to receive a booster vaccination (9.0x10\^5 PfSPZ) 21 days prior to the second CHMI.

Subjects will be followed for 56 days beyond the final CHMI at (post-immunization week 66).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

PfSPZ Vaccine

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Aseptic, purified, cryopreserved, radiation-attenuated, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites

CHMI (7G8)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (7G8) Pf parasites.

CHMI (NF135.C10)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of three to five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (NF135.C10) Pf parasites.

Infectivity Controls, CHMI (7G8)

Infectivity controls (n=24) will not receive any PfSPZ Vaccine. They will serve as infectivity controls for CHMI for all groups. 8 infectivity controls will undergo CHMI with each of two CHMIs (at 28 and 40) for Groups 1 and 2, and 8 infectivity controls will undergo CHMI with the 40 week CHMI for Groups 3 and 4. All CHMI will be conducted by exposure to the bites of 5 mosquitoes infected with heterologous (7G8) Pf parasites. Subjects will be followed for 56 days beyond the last CHMI at week 40 at the UMB site.

Group Type OTHER

CHMI (7G8)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (7G8) Pf parasites.

Infectivity Controls, CHMI (NF135.C10)

Infectivity controls (n=8) will not receive any PfSPZ Vaccine. They will serve as infectivity controls for the second CHMI at week 66 for Groups 3 and 4. CHMI will be conducted by exposure to the bites of 3-5 mosquitoes infected with heterologous (NF135.C10) Pf parasites. Subjects will be followed for 56 days beyond the last CHMI at week 66 at the NMRC site.

Group Type OTHER

CHMI (NF135.C10)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of three to five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (NF135.C10) Pf parasites.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

PfSPZ Vaccine

Aseptic, purified, cryopreserved, radiation-attenuated, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI (7G8)

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (7G8) Pf parasites.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

CHMI (NF135.C10)

CHMI is conducted by exposure to the bites of three to five mosquitoes infected with heterologous (NF135.C10) Pf parasites.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy adults (male or non-pregnant female) 18 - 50 years of age, inclusive.
* Able and willing to participate for the duration of the study.
* Able and willing to provide written (not proxy) informed consent.
* Physical examination and laboratory results without clinically significant findings and a body mass index (BMI) ≤35 for vaccine groups or BMI ≤40 for control groups.
* Women of childbearing potential must agree to use effective means of birth control (e.g. oral or implanted contraceptives, IUD, female condom, diaphragm with spermicide, cervical cap, abstinence, use of a condom by the sexual partner or sterile sexual partner) during the entire study. Women with a history of surgical or chemical sterilization (e.g. tubal ligation, hysterectomy, other) must provide written documentation of infertility from a health care provider.
* Willing to refrain from blood donation for 3 years following CHMI.
* Agree not to travel to a malaria endemic region during the entire course of the trial.

Exclusion Criteria

* Any history of malaria infection, or travel to a malaria endemic region within 6 months prior to first immunization.
* History of long-term residence (\>5 years) in area known to have significant transmission of P. falciparum.
* Body weight equal to, or less than, 110 pounds.
* Has evidence of increased cardiovascular disease risk (defined as \> 10%, 5 year risk) as determined by the method of Gaziano \[Gaziano, 2008\]. Risk factors include sex, age, systolic blood pressure (mm Hg), smoking status, body mass index (BMI, kg/mm2), and reported diabetes status.
* Positive HIV, HBsAg or HCV serology.
* Positive sickle cell screening test.
* An abnormal electrocardiogram, defined as one showing pathologic Q waves and significant ST-T wave changes; left ventricular hypertrophy; any non-sinus rhythm including isolated premature ventricular contractions, but excluding isolated premature atrial contractions; right or left bundle branch block; or advanced (secondary or tertiary) A-V heart block.
* Current use of systemic immunosuppressant pharmacotherapy.
* Current significant medical condition (cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, or hematological) or evidence of any other serious underlying medical condition identified by medical history, physical examination, or laboratory examination.
* History of a splenectomy.
* History of neurologic disorder (including seizures) or diagnosis of migraine headache.
* History of psychiatric disorders (such as personality disorders, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia) or behavioral tendencies (including active alcohol or drug abuse) discovered during the screening process that in the opinion of the investigator would make compliance with the protocol difficult.
* Plan for surgery between enrollment and CHMI.
* Females who are pregnant or nursing, females who plan on becoming pregnant or plan to nurse during the study period.
* Known allergy to any component of the vaccine formulation, history of anaphylactic response to mosquito-bites, or any history of anaphylactic reaction, retinal or visual field changes, or known allergy to anti-malarials including chloroquine phosphate, atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone®), or artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem®).
* Receipt of another investigational vaccine or drug within 30 days prior to the first immunization, or plan to participate in another investigational vaccine/drug research during or within 1 month following participation in this study (vaccine recipients).
* Receipt of another investigational vaccine or drug within 30 days prior to CHMI, or plan to participate in another investigational vaccine/drug research during or within 1 month following participation in this study (infectivity controls).
* Receipt of more than three other vaccines during the period 60 days prior to the screening visit to 1 month following participation in this study.
* Personal beliefs that prohibit the receiving of vaccine product containing human serum albumin within the diluent (vaccine recipients only).
* Use or planned use of any drug with anti-malarial activity that would coincide with the periods of immunization or CHMI.
* Anticipated use of medications known to cause drug reactions with atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone®), or artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem®) such as cimetidine, metoclopramide, antacids, and kaolin.
* History of any other illness or condition which, in the investigator's judgment, may substantially increase the risk associated with the subject's participation in the protocol or compromise the scientific objectives.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Naval Medical Research Center

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Maryland

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Sanaria Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Alexandra Singer, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Naval Medical Research Center

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University of Maryland-Baltimore, Center for Vaccine Development

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Naval Medical Research Center

Silver Spring, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Seder RA, Chang LJ, Enama ME, Zephir KL, Sarwar UN, Gordon IJ, Holman LA, James ER, Billingsley PF, Gunasekera A, Richman A, Chakravarty S, Manoj A, Velmurugan S, Li M, Ruben AJ, Li T, Eappen AG, Stafford RE, Plummer SH, Hendel CS, Novik L, Costner PJ, Mendoza FH, Saunders JG, Nason MC, Richardson JH, Murphy J, Davidson SA, Richie TL, Sedegah M, Sutamihardja A, Fahle GA, Lyke KE, Laurens MB, Roederer M, Tewari K, Epstein JE, Sim BK, Ledgerwood JE, Graham BS, Hoffman SL; VRC 312 Study Team. Protection against malaria by intravenous immunization with a nonreplicating sporozoite vaccine. Science. 2013 Sep 20;341(6152):1359-65. doi: 10.1126/science.1241800. Epub 2013 Aug 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23929949 (View on PubMed)

Epstein JE, Tewari K, Lyke KE, Sim BK, Billingsley PF, Laurens MB, Gunasekera A, Chakravarty S, James ER, Sedegah M, Richman A, Velmurugan S, Reyes S, Li M, Tucker K, Ahumada A, Ruben AJ, Li T, Stafford R, Eappen AG, Tamminga C, Bennett JW, Ockenhouse CF, Murphy JR, Komisar J, Thomas N, Loyevsky M, Birkett A, Plowe CV, Loucq C, Edelman R, Richie TL, Seder RA, Hoffman SL. Live attenuated malaria vaccine designed to protect through hepatic CD8(+) T cell immunity. Science. 2011 Oct 28;334(6055):475-80. doi: 10.1126/science.1211548. Epub 2011 Sep 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21903775 (View on PubMed)

Ishizuka AS, Lyke KE, DeZure A, Berry AA, Richie TL, Mendoza FH, Enama ME, Gordon IJ, Chang LJ, Sarwar UN, Zephir KL, Holman LA, James ER, Billingsley PF, Gunasekera A, Chakravarty S, Manoj A, Li M, Ruben AJ, Li T, Eappen AG, Stafford RE, K C N, Murshedkar T, DeCederfelt H, Plummer SH, Hendel CS, Novik L, Costner PJ, Saunders JG, Laurens MB, Plowe CV, Flynn B, Whalen WR, Todd JP, Noor J, Rao S, Sierra-Davidson K, Lynn GM, Epstein JE, Kemp MA, Fahle GA, Mikolajczak SA, Fishbaugher M, Sack BK, Kappe SH, Davidson SA, Garver LS, Bjorkstrom NK, Nason MC, Graham BS, Roederer M, Sim BK, Hoffman SL, Ledgerwood JE, Seder RA. Protection against malaria at 1 year and immune correlates following PfSPZ vaccination. Nat Med. 2016 Jun;22(6):614-23. doi: 10.1038/nm.4110. Epub 2016 May 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27158907 (View on PubMed)

Lyke KE, Ishizuka AS, Berry AA, Chakravarty S, DeZure A, Enama ME, James ER, Billingsley PF, Gunasekera A, Manoj A, Li M, Ruben AJ, Li T, Eappen AG, Stafford RE, Kc N, Murshedkar T, Mendoza FH, Gordon IJ, Zephir KL, Holman LA, Plummer SH, Hendel CS, Novik L, Costner PJ, Saunders JG, Berkowitz NM, Flynn BJ, Nason MC, Garver LS, Laurens MB, Plowe CV, Richie TL, Graham BS, Roederer M, Sim BK, Ledgerwood JE, Hoffman SL, Seder RA. Attenuated PfSPZ Vaccine induces strain-transcending T cells and durable protection against heterologous controlled human malaria infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Mar 7;114(10):2711-2716. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1615324114. Epub 2017 Feb 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28223498 (View on PubMed)

Epstein JE, Paolino KM, Richie TL, Sedegah M, Singer A, Ruben AJ, Chakravarty S, Stafford A, Ruck RC, Eappen AG, Li T, Billingsley PF, Manoj A, Silva JC, Moser K, Nielsen R, Tosh D, Cicatelli S, Ganeshan H, Case J, Padilla D, Davidson S, Garver L, Saverino E, Murshedkar T, Gunasekera A, Twomey PS, Reyes S, Moon JE, James ER, Kc N, Li M, Abot E, Belmonte A, Hauns K, Belmonte M, Huang J, Vasquez C, Remich S, Carrington M, Abebe Y, Tillman A, Hickey B, Regules J, Villasante E, Sim BKL, Hoffman SL. Protection against Plasmodium falciparum malaria by PfSPZ Vaccine. JCI Insight. 2017 Jan 12;2(1):e89154. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.89154.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28097230 (View on PubMed)

Lyke KE, Singer A, Berry AA, Reyes S, Chakravarty S, James ER, Billingsley PF, Gunasekera A, Manoj A, Murshedkar T, Laurens MB, Church WP, Garver Baldwin LS, Sedegah M, Banania G, Ganeshan H, Guzman I, Reyes A, Wong M, Belmonte A, Ozemoya A, Belmonte M, Huang J, Villasante E, Sim BKL, Hoffman SL, Richie TL, Epstein JE; Warfighter II Study Team. Multidose Priming and Delayed Boosting Improve Plasmodium falciparum Sporozoite Vaccine Efficacy Against Heterologous P. falciparum Controlled Human Malaria Infection. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Oct 5;73(7):e2424-e2435. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1294.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 32920641 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

CVD Malaria 26000

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

NMRC.2015.0009

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Sanaria™ PfSPZ Challenge Vaccine
NCT01546389 COMPLETED PHASE1
First-in-Human PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccination/CHMI
NCT06735209 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING PHASE1
PfSPZ Vaccine Trial in Malian Children
NCT04940130 COMPLETED PHASE2