Safety, Tolerability and Immunogenicity of INO-4700 for MERS-CoV in Healthy Volunteers

NCT ID: NCT04588428

Last Updated: 2026-01-22

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

192 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-06-21

Study Completion Date

2023-01-19

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this Phase 2a, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of INO-4700 administered by intradermal (ID) injection followed by electroporation (EP) using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device in healthy adult volunteers for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. This study was divided into 2 parts: Part 1- dose finding stage and Part 2- dose expansion stage.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Part 1: INO-4700 Group A

Participants received one intradermal (ID) injection of 0.6 milligram (mg) of INO-4700 followed by electroporation (EP) using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0 and Week 4.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

INO-4700

Intervention Type DRUG

INO-4700 was administered ID.

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Part 1: INO-4700 Group B

Participants received one ID injection of 1.0 mg of INO-4700 followed by EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0 and Week 4.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

INO-4700

Intervention Type DRUG

INO-4700 was administered ID.

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Part 1: INO-4700 Group C

Participants received one ID injection of 1.0 mg of INO-4700 followed by EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0 and Week 8.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

INO-4700

Intervention Type DRUG

INO-4700 was administered ID.

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Part 1: INO-4700 Group D

Participants received two ID injections (in an acceptable location on two different limbs) of 0.5 mg each of INO-4700 followed by EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0 and Week 8.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

INO-4700

Intervention Type DRUG

INO-4700 was administered ID.

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Part 1: INO-4700 Group E

Participants received two ID injections (in an acceptable location on two different limbs) of 1.0 mg each of INO-4700 followed by EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0 and Week 4.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

INO-4700

Intervention Type DRUG

INO-4700 was administered ID.

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Part 1: Placebo Group F

Participants received one ID injection of placebo followed by EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0 and Week 4.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) was administered ID.

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Part 1: Placebo Group G

Participants received one ID injection of placebo followed by EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0 and Week 8.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) was administered ID.

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Part 1: Placebo Group H

Participants received two ID injections (in an acceptable location on two different limbs) of placebo followed by EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0 and Week 8.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) was administered ID.

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Part 1: Placebo Group I

Participants received two ID injections (in an acceptable location on two different limbs) of placebo followed by EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0 and Week 4.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) was administered ID.

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Part 2: Parts 2A and 2B

Participants were planned to receive ID injection of INO-4700 based on optimal dose and regimen selection in Part 1 followed by EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device on Day 0, Week 4 or Week 8 and a booster dose at Week 48 (only for Part 2B participants were planned to receive a third dose).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

INO-4700

Intervention Type DRUG

INO-4700

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Interventions

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INO-4700

INO-4700 was administered ID.

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

Sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) was administered ID.

Intervention Type DRUG

CELLECTRA™ 2000

EP using the CELLECTRA™ 2000 device was administered following ID drug administration

Intervention Type DEVICE

INO-4700

INO-4700

Intervention Type DRUG

CELLECTRA™ 2000

CELLECTRA™ 2000

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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SSC-0001

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Judged to be healthy by the Investigator on the basis of medical history, physical examination and vital signs performed at Screening;
* Able and willing to comply with all study procedures;
* Screening laboratory results within normal limits;
* Negative tests for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C antibody and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibody;
* Screening electrocardiogram (ECG) deemed by the Investigator as having no clinically significant findings (e.g. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome);
* Be post-menopausal or be surgically sterile or have a partner who is sterile or use medically effective contraception with a failure rate of \< 1% per year when used consistently and correctly from screening until 3 months following last dose.

Exclusion Criteria

* Pregnant or breastfeeding, or intending to become pregnant or father children within the projected duration of the trial starting with the screening visit until 3 months following last dose;
* History of respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic bronchitis;
* Currently participating in or has participated in a study with an investigational product within 30 days preceding Day 0;
* Previous receipt of any vaccine within 30 days preceding Day 0 or planning to receive any vaccine during the timeframe restricted per the protocol;
* Previous receipt of an investigational vaccine product for the prevention of MERS;
* Prior exposure to MERS-CoV or camels;
* Participants who participate in MERS-201 Part 1 cannot participate in MERS-201 Part 2;
* Fewer than two acceptable sites available for ID injection and EP considering the deltoid and anterolateral quadriceps muscles;
* Prisoner or participants who are compulsorily detained (involuntary incarceration);
* Current or anticipated concomitant immunosuppressive therapy (excluding inhaled, topical skin and/or eye drop-containing corticosteroids) prior to dosing. Systemic corticosteroids must be discontinued at least 3 months prior to first dose;
* Reported active drug or alcohol or substance abuse or dependence.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Inovio Pharmaceuticals

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Bonaventure Orizu, MD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Inovio Pharmaceuticals

Locations

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Clinical Research Center, Irbid Specialty Hospital (CRC/ISH)

Irbid, , Jordan

Site Status

Pharmaceutical Research Center / Jordan University of Science and Technology

Irbid, , Jordan

Site Status

Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Walter Reed Project (WRP)

Kericho, , Kenya

Site Status

Ahero Clincal Trials Unit

Kisumu, , Kenya

Site Status

American University of Beirut Medical Center

Beirut, , Lebanon

Site Status

Hammoud Hospital University Medical Center

Saida, , Lebanon

Site Status

Countries

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Jordan Kenya Lebanon

References

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Agnes JT, Marcus SA, Al-Ghraibeh SS, Al-Sweedan SA, Kosgei J, Ogutu B, Yang S, Walker KA, Orizu B, Broderick KE, Boyer J, Ramos S, Morrow MP, Kraynyak K, Sylvester AJ, Gillespie E, Liebowitz D, Humeau LM. Safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a DNA-based vaccine (INO-4700) against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: phase 2a study in healthy volunteers. Front Immunol. 2025 Nov 14;16:1662923. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1662923. eCollection 2025.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 41322416 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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MERS-201

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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