Safety and Efficacy of NF135 CPS Immunization (CPS135)

Safety and Protective Efficacy of Chemoprophylaxis and Sporozoite Immunization With Plasmodium Falciparum NF135 Against Homologous and Heterologous Challenge Infection in Healthy Volunteers in the Netherlands

This is an open label, randomized, controlled clinical trial. The primary aim of this project is to determine the safety and tolerability of NF135.C10 sporozoite immunization under chemoprophylaxis against homologous and heterologous challenge infection.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Malaria,Falciparum; Controlled Human Malaria Infection; Immunization; Infection
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: CPS-immunization; Biological: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum NF135.C10; Drug: Atovaquone / Proguanil Oral Tablet [Malarone]; Biological: CPS-immunization (A/L); Biological: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum NF54

Detailed Description

A total of 49 healthy volunteers will be allocated to receive either three immunizations with 15 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes (n=30), 3 immunizations with 5 NF135.C10 infected mosquitoes (n=10) or no immunizations (n=6). Immunizations in cohort A (n=20) will be performed under mefloquine prophylaxis, spaced 4 weeks apart. In cohort B, volunteers will not take mefloquine prophylaxis, instead all volunteers will be treated presumptively on day 7 after each immunization with a curative regimen of artemether/lumefantrine, regardless of parasitaemia or symptoms.

Nineteen weeks after the last immunization, all volunteers plus naïve controls will be challenged either by the bites of 5 NF135.C10 (n=36) or 5 NF54 (n=13) infected mosquitoes. After challenge infection, volunteers will be followed up on an out-patient basis once daily for qPCR and safety lab measurements from day 6 until day 21 post challenge. All volunteers will be treated with a curative regimen of atovaquone/proguanil, either at the time of detection of blood stage parasitemia, or 28 days after challenge infection.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 43
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Gelderland
    • Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands, 6525 GA
      • Radboud University Medical Centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is aged ≥ 18 and ≤ 35 years and in good health.
2. Subject has adequate understanding of the procedures of the study and agrees to abide strictly thereby.
3. Subject is able to communicate well with the investigator and is available to attend all study visits.
4. The subject will remain within the Netherlands during the challenge period, not travel to a malaria-endemic area during the study period, and is reachable (24/7) by mobile telephone throughout the entire study period.
5. Subject agrees to inform his/her general practitioner about participation in the study and to sign a request to release by the General Practitioner (GP), and medical specialist when necessary, any relevant medical information concerning possible contra- indications for participation in the study.
6. The subject agrees to refrain from blood donation throughout the study period and for a defined period thereafter according to current guidelines.
7. For female subjects: subject agrees to use adequate contraception and not to breastfeed for the duration of study. Acceptable forms of contraception include: established use of oral, injected or implanted hormonal contraceptives; intrauterine device or intrauterine system; barrier methods (condoms or diaphragm with additional spermicide); male partner's sterilisation (with appropriate post-vasectomy documentation of absence of sperm in the ejaculate); true abstinence when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.
8. Subject agrees to refrain from intensive physical exercise (disproportionate to the subjects usual daily activity or exercise routine) during the malaria challenge period.
9. Subject agrees to avoid additional triggers that may cause elevations in liver enzymes including alcohol from baseline up to 1 week post treatment.
10. Subject has signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any history, or evidence at screening, of clinically significant symptoms, physical signs or abnormal laboratory values suggestive of systemic conditions, such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, neurological, dermatological, endocrine, malignant, haematological, infectious, immunodeficient, psychiatric and other disorders, which could compromise the health of the volunteer during the study or interfere with the interpretation of the study results. These include, but are not limited to, any of the following.

   1.1 Body weight <50 kg or Body Mass Index (BMI) <18 or >30 kg/m2 at screening. 1.2 A heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, as determined by: an estimated ten year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease of ≥5% at screening, as determined by the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE); history, or evidence at screening, of clinically significant arrhythmia's, prolonged QT-interval or other clinically relevant ECG abnormalities; or a positive family history of cardiovascular events (including ischemia and myocarditis) in 1st or 2nd degree relatives <50 years old.

   1.3 A medical history of functional asplenia, sickle cell trait/disease, thalassaemia trait/disease or G6PD deficiency.

   1.4 History of epilepsy in the period of five years prior to study onset, even if no longer on medication.

   1.5 Screening tests positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), or active Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).

   1.6 Chronic use of i) immunosuppressive drugs, ii) antibiotics or antimalarials, iii) or other immune modifying drugs within three months prior to study onset (inhaled and topical corticosteroids and oral anti-histamines exempted) or expected use of such during the study period.

   1.7 History of malignancy of any organ system (other than localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin), treated or untreated, within the past 5 years.

   1.8 Any history severe psychiatric disease diagnosed by a psychiatrist. 1.9 History of drug or alcohol abuse interfering with normal social function in the period of one year prior to study onset, positive urine toxicology test for cocaine or amphetamines at screening or inclusion, or positive urine toxicology test for cannabis at inclusion.

2. For female subjects: positive urine pregnancy test at screening or at inclusion.
3. Any history of malaria, positive serology for P. falciparum, or previous participation in any malaria (vaccine) study.
4. Known hypersensitivity to or contra-indications (including co-medication) for use of Mefloquine, Malarone or artemether-lumefantrine, or history of severe (allergic) reactions to mosquito bites.
5. Receipt of any vaccinations in the 3 months prior to the start of the study or plans to receive any other vaccinations during the study period or up to 90 days thereafter.
6. Participation in any other clinical study in the 30 days prior to the start of the study or during the study period.
7. Being an employee or student of the department of Medical Microbiology of the Radboudumc or the department of Internal Medicine.
8. Any other condition or situation that would, in the opinion of the investigator, place the subject at an unacceptable risk of injury or render the subject unable to meet the requirements of the protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

7

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1: NF135 CPS-immunization challenged by NF135; 10 volunteers will receive three immunizations with 15 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes under mefloquine prophylaxis. Volunteers will be challenged by the bites of 5 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes 19 weeks after the last immunization.	Biological: CPS-immunization; Subjects will be immunized 3 times by exposure to the bites of P. falciparum NF135.C10 infected mosquitoes while taking mefloquine prophylaxis.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites; Mefloquine; Biological: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum NF135.C10; Subjects will receive bites from 5 Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites; Drug: Atovaquone / Proguanil Oral Tablet [Malarone]; All participants will be treated with atovaquone/proguanil (1000/400 mg (= 4 tablets) 1×/day during 3 consecutive days) when they develop a malaria infection or on day 28 after malaria challenge infection.
Experimental: 2: Low dose NF135 CPS-immunization challenged by NF135; 10 volunteers will receive three immunizations with 5 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes under mefloquine prophylaxis. Volunteers will be challenged by the bites of 5 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes 19 weeks after the last immunization.	Biological: CPS-immunization; Subjects will be immunized 3 times by exposure to the bites of P. falciparum NF135.C10 infected mosquitoes while taking mefloquine prophylaxis.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites; Mefloquine; Biological: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum NF135.C10; Subjects will receive bites from 5 Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites; Drug: Atovaquone / Proguanil Oral Tablet [Malarone]; All participants will be treated with atovaquone/proguanil (1000/400 mg (= 4 tablets) 1×/day during 3 consecutive days) when they develop a malaria infection or on day 28 after malaria challenge infection.
Experimental: 3: NF135 CPS-immunization (A/L) challenged by NF135; 10 volunteers will receive three immunizations with 15 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes and are presumptively treated with artemether/lumefantrine starting on day 7 after each immunization. Volunteers will be challenged by the bites of 5 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes.	Biological: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum NF135.C10; Subjects will receive bites from 5 Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites; Drug: Atovaquone / Proguanil Oral Tablet [Malarone]; All participants will be treated with atovaquone/proguanil (1000/400 mg (= 4 tablets) 1×/day during 3 consecutive days) when they develop a malaria infection or on day 28 after malaria challenge infection.; Biological: CPS-immunization (A/L); Subjects will be immunized 3 times by exposure to the bites of P. falciparum NF135.C10 infected mosquitoes and receive presumptive treatment with artemether/lumefantrine initiated on day 7 after each immunization.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites; Artemether/lumefantrine (A/L)
Experimental: 4: NF135 CPS-immunization (A/L) challenged by NF54; 10 volunteers will receive three immunizations with 15 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes and are presumptively treated with artemether/lumefantrine starting on day 7 after each immunization. Volunteers will be challenged by the bites of 5 NF54 infected Anopheles mosquitoes 19 weeks after the last immunization.	Drug: Atovaquone / Proguanil Oral Tablet [Malarone]; All participants will be treated with atovaquone/proguanil (1000/400 mg (= 4 tablets) 1×/day during 3 consecutive days) when they develop a malaria infection or on day 28 after malaria challenge infection.; Biological: CPS-immunization (A/L); Subjects will be immunized 3 times by exposure to the bites of P. falciparum NF135.C10 infected mosquitoes and receive presumptive treatment with artemether/lumefantrine initiated on day 7 after each immunization.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites; Artemether/lumefantrine (A/L); Biological: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum NF54; Subjects will receive bites from 5 Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum NF54 sporozoites.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF54 sporozoites
Other: 5: Control group challenged by NF135.C10 Cohort A; Challenge infection control group: 3 volunteers will receive no immunization and will be challenged by the bites of 5 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes 19 weeks after the last immunization.	Biological: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum NF135.C10; Subjects will receive bites from 5 Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites; Drug: Atovaquone / Proguanil Oral Tablet [Malarone]; All participants will be treated with atovaquone/proguanil (1000/400 mg (= 4 tablets) 1×/day during 3 consecutive days) when they develop a malaria infection or on day 28 after malaria challenge infection.
Other: 6: Control group challenged by NF54 Cohort B; Challenge infection control group: 3 volunteers will receive no immunization and will be challenged by the bites of 5 NF54 infected Anopheles mosquitoes 19 weeks after the last immunization.	Drug: Atovaquone / Proguanil Oral Tablet [Malarone]; All participants will be treated with atovaquone/proguanil (1000/400 mg (= 4 tablets) 1×/day during 3 consecutive days) when they develop a malaria infection or on day 28 after malaria challenge infection.; Biological: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum NF54; Subjects will receive bites from 5 Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum NF54 sporozoites.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF54 sporozoites
Other: 7: Control group challenged by NF135 Cohort B; Challenge infection control group: 3 volunteers will receive no immunization and will be challenged by the bites of 5 NF135.C10 infected Anopheles mosquitoes 19 weeks after the last immunization.	Biological: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum NF135.C10; Subjects will receive bites from 5 Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites.; Other Names: Plasmodium falciparum NF135.C10 sporozoites; Drug: Atovaquone / Proguanil Oral Tablet [Malarone]; All participants will be treated with atovaquone/proguanil (1000/400 mg (= 4 tablets) 1×/day during 3 consecutive days) when they develop a malaria infection or on day 28 after malaria challenge infection.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Frequency of Adverse Events After NF135.C10 CPS Immunization	The number of adverse events will be recorded by the trial clinicians for all participants.	Cohort A: Inclusion until 35 days after challenge infection (35 weeks) Cohort B: Inclusion - premature end of study (22 weeks)
Magnitude of Adverse Events After NF135.C10 CPS Immunization	The severity of adverse events will be recorded (mild/moderate/severe) for each adverse event	Cohort A: Inclusion until 35 days after challenge infection (35 weeks) Cohort B: Inclusion - premature end of study (22 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to Parasitemia	The effectiveness of CPS-immunization with NF135 sporozoites to protect against malaria challenge infection with homologous N135.C10 or heterologous NF54 sporozoites will be determined by the time to parasitemia in immunized versus non-immunized volunteers after the challenge infection.	Day 1 - 28 after malaria challenge infection (28 days)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Radboud University Medical Center
• Collaborators: The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Matthew BB McCall, MD PhD DTMH, Radboud University Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• van der Boor SC, Alkema M, van Gemert GJ, Teelen K, van de Vegte-Bolmer M, Walk J, van Crevel R, de Mast Q, Ockenhouse CF, Sauerwein RW, McCall MBB. Whole sporozoite immunization with Plasmodium falciparum strain NF135 in a randomized trial. BMC Med. 2023 Apr 7;21(1):137. doi: 10.1186/s12916-023-02788-9.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 17, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 22, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): January 23, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 26, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 25, 2023
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Malaria; Immunization; Mosquito bites; Sporozoite; Falciparum
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Vector Borne Diseases; Parasitic Diseases; Protozoan Infections; Infections; Communicable Diseases; Malaria; Malaria, Falciparum; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antimetabolites; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Antimalarials; Atovaquone; Proguanil; Lumefantrine; Artemether; Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; Atovaquone, proguanil drug combination; Mefloquine
• Other Study ID Numbers: CPS135

Drug and device information, study documents

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