Biological Efficacy Study of HerpV Vaccine With QS-21 to Treat Participants With Recurrent Genital Herpes

A Phase 2a, Multicenter, Double-blinded, Randomized, 2-Period Trial to Evaluate the Effect of HerpV Administered in Combination With the Stimulon® Adjuvant QS-21 on Viral Shedding in Adults With Recurrent Genital Herpes

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of recombinant human heat shock protein 70-polyvalent peptide complex (HerpV) vaccine administration on recurring episodes of genital herpes by evaluating viral shedding before and after treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Herpes Simplex Type 2
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: HerpV and QS-21; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

This study will evaluate the biological effectiveness and safety of the HerpV vaccine in combination with adjuvant QS-21. The Safety and tolerability of HerpV plus QS-21 will also be evaluated by collecting number and severity of adverse events throughout the study.

Participants will undergo a baseline/ screening period. This is a 45 day period when the participant collects a swab of the genital area each day. In case of a recurrence, participant will be required to collect two swabs a day. If the participant collects at least 80% of the swabbing samples and meets all eligibility criteria they may enroll in the study.

Study Period 1 consists of three treatments and a 45 day swabbing period after the last treatment. The participant will collect swabs of the genital region each day for 45 days.

Participants who successfully complete Study Period 1 will proceed to Study Period 2. They will receive a booster injection of study drug or placebo according to their original randomization assignment. The participants will again enter a 45 day swabbing period, collecting swabs of the genital area each day for 45 days.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Oregon
    • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97210
      • Westover Heights Clinic
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Center for Clinical Studies - Texas Medical Center
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77065
      • Center for Clinical Studies - Cypress
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77598
      • Center for Clinical Studies- Webster
  • Washington
    • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98104
      • University of Washington Virology Research Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 48 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Seropositive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
• Clinically active genital herpes defined as a history of 1-9 episodes per year for at least 1 year prior to screening or 1 year prior to beginning suppressive therapy.
• Willing to either use an effective method of contraception or abstain from sexual intercourse throughout the 48-week study period.
• If female of childbearing potential, have a negative serum pregnancy test.
• Agree to not receive any other investigational drugs while enrolled in this study.
• The above criteria must be met before participants are allowed to enter the 45-day swabbing period to be screen for the study.
• Completion and collection of greater than or equal to 80% (36 days) of the 45-day consecutive daily genital swabs.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe active infection, compromised cardiopulmonary function, or other serious medical illness that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, would prevent study completion.
• A history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection of the eye (herpes simplex interstitial keratitis or uveitis), or herpes-associated erythema multiforme.
• A history of immune suppression or autoimmune disorder.
• Continued use of suppressive anti-viral therapy for HSV-2; a 1 week washout of any anti-viral therapy (suppressive and episodic) is required prior to initiating the swabbing period.
• Concomitant use of systemic corticosteroids or immune-suppressive medications. The use of nasal steroids is acceptable.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive.
• Presence of active Hepatitis B or C infection.
• Known hypersensitivity or allergies to acyclovir or valacyclovir.
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: HerpV 240 μg + QS-21 50 μg; Participants will receive a combination of HerpV 240 micrograms (μg) and QS-21 50 μg injection subcutaneously at Weeks 0, 2 and 4 in treatment period 1. At Week 24, participants who completed treatment period 1 will receive a booster dose of combination of HerpV 240 μg and QS-21 50 μg in treatment period 2. Each treatment period will be followed by a washout period of 1 week.	Drug: HerpV and QS-21; HerpV (recombinant human heat shock protein 70 [rh-Hsc70] polyvalent peptide complex) in combination with adjuvant QS-21; Other Names: AG-707
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Participants will receive a placebo injection subcutaneously at Weeks 0, 2 and 4 in treatment period 1 and at Week 24 in treatment period 2. Each treatment period will be followed by a washout period of 1 week.	Drug: Placebo; phosphate buffered saline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percent Change in Overall Viral Shedding Rate From Baseline (Week -7 to 0) to Post-treatment Period (Weeks 6 to 13)	The viral shedding rate was defined as the number of days with genital swab positive for herpes simplex virus (HSV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), as measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), relative to the total number of days with available swabs. The viral shedding rate was defined as the number of days with genital swab positive for herpes simplex virus (HSV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), as measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), relative to the total number of days with available swabs. Overall viral shedding rate = number of days with positive PCR/total number of days PCR results collected. Change in overall viral shedding rate was calculated within participants comparing baseline with post-treatment, and summarized across all participants. Percent change in viral shedding rate and 95% CI are reported.	Baseline, Weeks 6-13
Percent Change in Overall Viral Shedding Rate From Baseline (Week -7 to 0) to Post-treatment Period (Weeks 26 to 33)	The viral shedding rate was defined as the number of days with genital swab positive for HSV DNA, as measured by quantitative real-time PCR, relative to the total number of days with available swabs. The viral shedding rate was defined as the number of days with genital swab positive for herpes simplex virus (HSV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), as measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), relative to the total number of days with available swabs. Overall viral shedding rate = number of days with positive PCR/total number of days PCR results collected. Change in overall viral shedding rate was calculated within participants comparing baseline with post-treatment, and summarized across all participants. Percent change in viral shedding rate and 95% CI are reported.	Baseline, Weeks 26-33

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Number of Participants With Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Immune Response at Any Time	Baseline through Week 26
Number of Participants With CD8+ Immune Response at Any Time	Baseline through Week 26

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Agenus Inc.
• Investigators: Study Director: Agenus Medical Monitor, Agenus Inc.

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Wald A, Koelle DM, Fife K, Warren T, Leclair K, Chicz RM, Monks S, Levey DL, Musselli C, Srivastava PK. Safety and immunogenicity of long HSV-2 peptides complexed with rhHsc70 in HSV-2 seropositive persons. Vaccine. 2011 Nov 3;29(47):8520-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.09.046. Epub 2011 Sep 21.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 29, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 12, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 18, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): September 19, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 13, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 22, 2021
• Last Verified: June 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: herpes simplex virus type 2,; genital herpes
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Virus Diseases; Infections; Communicable Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; DNA Virus Infections; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Skin Diseases, Viral; Herpesviridae Infections; Herpes Simplex; Herpes Genitalis
• Other Study ID Numbers: C-400-02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided