Immunogenicity and Safety Study of a Vaccine Against Lyme Borreliosis, in Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 65 Years. Randomized, Controlled, Observer-blind Phase 2 Study.

Immunogenicity and Safety Study of VLA15, A Multivalent Recombinant OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Based Vaccine Candidate Against Lyme Borreliosis, in Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 65 Years. A Randomized, Controlled, Observer-blind Phase 2 Study.

This is a randomized, observer-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter Phase 2 study conducted in two study phases: a run-in phase and a main study phase. The study was investigated 3 doses of a multivalent OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) based Lyme vaccine (VLA15) in healthy adults aged 18 to 65 years of age. Study participants received 3 immunizations of the vaccine at a monthly interval. The study assessed the immune response as well as the safety profile of the vaccine.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Lyme Borreliosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: VLA15; Biological: Placebo

Detailed Description

This is a randomized, observer-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter Phase 2 study.

In the Run-in phase, a total of 120 subjects aged 18 to 40 years were randomized 1:1:1:1 to receive one of three VLA15 doses (VLA15 low dose (90 µg), VLA15 medium dose (135 µg), VLA15 high dose (180 µg)) or Placebo as intramuscular vaccinations on Days 1, 29 and 57.

Dosing was adjusted by injection volume.

In the Main Study phase, a total of 452 subjects aged 18 to 65 years were randomized 2:2:1 to receive VLA15 135 µg or VLA15 180 µg, the two dose groups were selected from the Run-in-Phase or placebo, as intramuscular vaccinations on Days 1, 29 and 57. Subjects were enrolled in two age groups (18-49 years and 50-65 years) in a ratio of approx. 2:1.

In both study phases, target was to enroll approx. 10 % or more of subjects that were baseline seropositive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu latu (Bb s.l.).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 572
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Gent, Belgium, 9000
    • Cevac Center for vaccinology
• Germany
  • Berlin, Germany, 10117
    • Berliner Centrum für Reise- und Tropenmedizin (BCRT)
  • Hamburg, Germany, 20359
    • Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
• United States
  • Connecticut
    • Milford, Connecticut, United States, 06460
      • Clinical Research Consulting, LLC
    • Stamford, Connecticut, United States, 06905
      • Stamford Therapeutics Consortium
  • New York
    • Binghamton, New York, United States, 13901
      • United Medical Associates
    • Endwell, New York, United States, 13706
      • Regional Clinical Research, Inc.
    • Rochester, New York, United States, 14609
      • Rochester Clinical Research Inc.
  • Rhode Island
    • Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, 02886
      • Omega Medical Research

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Run-in phase:

1. Subject is aged 18 to 40 years at the day of screening (Visit 0);

Main Study phase:

1. Subject is aged18 to 65 years at the day of screening (Visit 0);

   Run-in phase and Main Study phase:

2. Subject is of good general health, including subjects with pharmacologically controlled chronic conditions;
3. Subject has an understanding of the study and its procedures, agrees to its provisions, and gives written informed consent prior to any study-related procedures;

4. If subject is of childbearing potential:

   1. Subject has a negative serum pregnancy test at screening (Visit 0);
   2. Subject agrees to employ adequate birth control measures for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject has a chronic illness related to Lyme borreliosis (LB), an active symptomatic LB (Lyme borreliosis) as suspected or diagnosed by a physician, or received treatment for LB (Lyme borreliosis) within the last 3 months prior to Visit 0;
2. Subject received previous vaccination against Lyme borreliosis (LB).;
3. Subject had a tick bite within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1;
4. Subject has a medical history of or currently has a clinically relevant disease (cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, psychiatric conditions) which poses a risk for participation in the study, based on investigators judgement, such as individuals with poorly controlled or unstable disease, ongoing suspected or active inflammation, or poor compliance with pharmacologic treatment. Subjects with pharmacologically controlled conditions like osteoarthritis, depression, or asthma are eligible;
5. Subject has a medical history of or currently has a neuroinflammatory or autoimmune disease, including Guillain Barré Syndrome;
6. Subject has a known thrombocytopenia, bleeding disorder, or received anticoagulants in the 3 weeks prior to first vaccination or until Day 57 (Visit 3), contraindicating intramuscular vaccination as judged by the investigator;
7. Subject has received an active or passive immunization within 28 days before first vaccination at Visit 1 and until Day 85; except for influenza (seasonal or pandemic) and pneumococcal vaccines which may be administered outside a 7-days interval before or after any trial vaccination;
8. Subject has received any other non-registered medicinal product in another clinical trial within 28 days prior to VLA15 vaccination at Visit 1 (Day 1) and throughout the entire study period or has received a registered medicinal product in another clinical trial within 28 days prior to VLA15 vaccination at Visit 1 (Day 1) and up to Day 85;
9. Subject has a known or suspected defect of the immune system that would prevent an immune response to the vaccine, such as subjects with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, including infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), status post organ transplantation or immuno-suppressive therapy within 30 days prior to Visit 1. Immuno-suppressive therapy is defined as administration of chronic (longer than 14 days) prednisone or equivalent 0.05 mg per kg/ per day. Topical and inhaled steroids are allowed;
10. Subject has a history of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions or a known hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to one of the components of the vaccine;
11. Subject had any malignancy in the past 5 years. If treatment for cancer was successfully completed more than 5 years ago and the malignancy is considered to be cured, the subject may be enrolled;
12. Subject had acute febrile infections within 10 days prior to first vaccination;
13. Subject is pregnant (positive serum pregnancy test at screening), has plans to become pregnant during the course of the study or is lactating at the time of enrollment. Women of childbearing potential that are unwilling or unable to employ an adequate birth control measure for the duration of the study.
14. Subject has donated blood or blood-derived products (plasma) within 30 days or received blood or blood-derived products (plasma) within 90 days prior to first vaccination in this study or plans to donate or use blood or blood products during the course of the study;
15. Subject has any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may compromise the subject's well-being, might interfere with evaluation of study endpoints, or would limit the subject's ability to complete the study;
16. Subject is committed to an institution (by virtue of an order issued either by the judicial or the administrative authorities);
17. Subject is in a dependent relationship with the sponsor, an investigator or other study team member, or the study center. Dependent relationships include close relatives and household members (i.e. children, partner/spouse, siblings, parents) as well as employees of the investigator or study center personnel.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo	Biological: Placebo; Placebo: PBS (Phosphate Buffered Saline)
Active Comparator: VLA15 low dose; VLA15 low dose with Alum.	Biological: VLA15; a multivalent recombinant Outer surface protein A (OspA) based vaccine candidate
Active Comparator: VLA15 medium dose; VLA15 medium dose with Alum.	Biological: VLA15; a multivalent recombinant Outer surface protein A (OspA) based vaccine candidate
Active Comparator: VLA15 high dose; VLA15 high dose with Alum.	Biological: VLA15; a multivalent recombinant Outer surface protein A (OspA) based vaccine candidate

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
GMTs (Geometric Mean Titers) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype ST1 to ST6	GMTs (Geometric Mean Titers) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) against each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) serotype ST1 to ST6, determined by ELISA at Day 85. GMTs are calculated based on the number of subjects with non-missing results.	at Day 85 / Month 3

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
GMTs (Geometric Mean Titers) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6)	GMTs (Geometric Mean Titers) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) against each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) (Outer Surface Protein A) serotype (ST1 to ST6), determined by ELISA. GMTs are calculated based on the number of subjects with non-missing results.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
SCRs (Seroconversion Rate) for Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype Specific IgG (Immunoglobulin G) (ST1 to ST6),	Seroconversion for ELISA is defined as: for subjects that are seronegative at Visit 1 (baseline): a change from seronegative at Visit 1 to seropositive (i.e. antibody titer of ≥40 U/mL) at a certain time point.; for subjects that are seropositive at Visit 1 (baseline): a ≥ 4-fold rise in IgG antibody titer from Visit 1. Percentages are based on the number of subjects with non-missing observations.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
GMFR (Geometric Mean of the Fold Rise as Compared to Baseline) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6)	GMFR (Geometric Mean of the Fold Rise as compared to baseline) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) against each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) serotype (ST1 to ST6), determined by ELISA. Calculations are based on number of subjects with non-missing results.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
GMTs (Geometric Mean Titers) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6) - Group 18 - 49 Years	GMTs (Geometric Mean Titers) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) against each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) serotype (ST1 to ST6), determined by ELISA, stratified by age group - Group 18 - 49 years. GMTs are calculated based on the number of subjects with non-missing results.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
GMTs (Geometric Mean Titers) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6) - Group 50 - 65 Years	GMTs (Geometric Mean Titers) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6), determined by ELISA, stratified by age group - Group 50 - 65 years. GMTs are calculated based on the number of subjects with non-missing results.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
SCRs (Seroconversion Rate) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6) - Group 18 - 49 Years	SCRs (Seroconversion Rate) for Seroconversion for ELISA is defined as: for subjects that are seronegative at Visit 1 (baseline): a change from seronegative at Visit 1 to seropositive (i.e. antibody titer of ≥40 U/mL) at a vertain time point.; for subjects that are seropositive at Visit 1 (baseline): a ≥ 4-fold rise in IgG antibody titer from Visit 1. Percentages are based on the number of subjects with non-missing observations.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
SCRs (Seroconversion Rate) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6) - Group 50 - 65 Years	Seroconversion for ELISA is defined as: for subjects that are seronegative at Visit 1 (baseline): a change from seronegative at Visit 1 to seropositive (i.e. antibody titer of ≥40 U/mL) at a vertain time point.; for subjects that are seropositive at Visit 1 (baseline): a ≥ 4-fold rise in IgG antibody titer from Visit 1. Percentages are based on the number of subjects with non-missing observations.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
GMFRs (Geometric Mean of the Fold Rise as Compared to Baseline) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6) - Group 18 - 49 Years	GMFRs (Geometric Mean of the Fold Rise as Compared to Baseline) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6), stratified by age group - Group 18 - 49 years. Calculations are based on number of subjects with non-missing results.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
GMFRs (Geometric Mean of the Fold Rise as Compared to Baseline) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6) - Group 50 - 65 Years	GMFRs (Geometric Mean of the Fold Rise as Compared to Baseline) for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) Against Each OspA (Outer Surface Protein A) Serotype (ST1 to ST6), stratified by age group - Group 50 - 65 years. Calculations are based on number of subjects with non-missing results.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
Percentage of Participants With SAEs (Serious Adverse Events)	Frequency of SAEs (Serious Adverse Events) during the entire study; frequency is being assessed in terms of percentage of participants.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
Percentage of Participants With Related SAEs (Serious Adverse Events)	Frequency of related SAEs (Serious Adverse Events) during the entire study; frequency is being assessed in terms of percentage of participants.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
Percentage of Participants With AESIs (Adverse Events of Special Interest)	Frequency of AESIs (Adverse Events of Special Interest) during the entire study; frequency is being assessed in terms of percentage of participants. AESIs are cases of Lyme Diseases, Lyme associated Events and the onset of potentially autoimmune or neuro-inflammatory disorders.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
Percentage of Participants With Related AESIs (Adverse Events of Special Interest)	Frequency of related AESIs (Adverse Events of Special Interest) during the entire study; frequency is being assessed in terms of percentage of participants. AESIs are cases of Lyme Diseases, Lyme associated Events and the onset of potentially autoimmune or neuro-inflammatory disorders.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
Percentage of Participants With Unsolicited AEs (Adverse Events)	Frequency of unsolicited AEs (Adverse Events) during the entire study (incl. clinically relevant laboratory parameters); frequency is being assessed in terms of percentage of participants.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
Percentage of Participants With Related Unsolicited AEs (Adverse Events)	Frequency of related unsolicited AEs (Adverse Events) during the entire study (incl. clinically relevant laboratory parameters); frequency is being assessed in terms of percentage of participants.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
Percentage of Participants With Solicited Local and Solicited Systemic AEs (Adverse Events)	Frequency of solicited local and solicited systemic AEs (Adverse Events) within 7 days after each and after any vaccination; frequency is being assessed in terms of percentage of participants.	Day 1 (day of first vaccination) through Day 7; Day 29 (day of second vaccination) through Day 35; Day 57 (day of third vaccination) through Day 63
Percentage of Participants With SAEs (Serious Adverse Events), AESIs (Adverse Events of Special Interest), Solicited and Unsolicited AEs (Adverse Events) - Group 18-49	Frequency of SAEs (Serious Adverse Events), AESIs (Adverse Events of Special Interest), solicited and unsolicited AEs (Adverse Events) during the entire study stratified by age group - Group 18-49; frequency is being assessed in terms of percentage of participants.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
Percentage of Participants With SAEs (Serious Adverse Events), AESIs (Adverse Events of Special Interest), Solicited and Unsolicited AEs (Adverse Events) - Group 50-65 Years	Frequency of SAEs (Serious Adverse Events), AESIs (Adverse Events of Special Interest), Solicited and Unsolicited AEs (Adverse Events) during the entire study stratified by age group - Group 50-65 years; frequency is being assessed in terms of percentage of participants.	up to Day 365 / Month 12
Number of Participants With AESIs (Adverse Events of Special Interest) up to Study End		up to Day 365 / Month 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pfizer

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 17, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 18, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): October 2, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 6, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 6, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): December 7, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 10, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2022
• Last Verified: December 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: VLA15, Lyme Borreliosis, Vaccine
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Vector Borne Diseases; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Tick-Borne Diseases; Spirochaetales Infections; Lyme Disease; Borrelia Infections
• Other Study ID Numbers: VLA15-201

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No