Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of INO-4800 for COVID-19 in Adults at High Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure

Phase 2/3 Randomized, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of INO-4800, a Prophylactic Vaccine Against COVID-19 Disease, Administered Intradermally Followed by Electroporation in Adults at High Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure

This is a Phase 2/3, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of INO-4800 administered by intradermal (ID) injection followed by electroporation (EP) using CELLECTRA® 2000 device to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in participants at high risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus - 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The Phase 2 segment will evaluate immunogenicity and safety in approximately 400 participants at two dose levels across three age groups. Safety and immunogenicity information from the Phase 2 segment will be used to determine the dose level for the Phase 3 efficacy segment of the study involving approximately 7116 participants.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); Coronavirus Infection; COVID-19 Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: INO-4800; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; Drug: Placebo

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 1307
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Colombia
  • Atlántico
    • Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia, 800001
      • Centro de Investigacion Medico Asistencial S.A.S
    • Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia, 80002
      • Clinica de la Costa Ltda
    • Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia, 80020
      • Corazón IPS S.A.S
    • Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia, 80020
      • Ips Centro Cientifico Asistencial Sas
  • Risaralda
    • Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia, 660003
      • Centro de Investigaciones Clinicas IPS Cardiomet Pereira
• Mexico
  • Mexico City, Mexico, 06700
    • Clinstile, SA de CV
  • Querétaro, Mexico, 76070
    • SMIQ, S. de R. L. de C.V.
  • Veracruz, Mexico, 91900
    • FAICIC S. de R.L. de C.V.
  • Jalisco
    • Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 44600
      • BRCR Global Mexico
  • Nuevo Leon
    • Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, 64718
      • Eukarya Pharmasite SC
  • Querétaro
    • San Juan del Río, Querétaro, Mexico, 76800
      • Unidad de Medicina Especializada SMA
• United States
  • Arizona
    • Chandler, Arizona, United States, 85224
      • Synexus Clinical Research US, Inc - Phoenix Southeast
    • Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85020
      • Central Phoenix Synexus Clinical Research
    • Tempe, Arizona, United States, 85283
      • AMR Tempe
  • California
    • San Diego, California, United States, 92108
      • Optimal Research, LLC
  • Florida
    • Coral Gables, Florida, United States, 33134
      • AMR South Florida
    • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33607
      • Clinical Research Trials of Florida, Inc
  • Kentucky
    • Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40509
      • AMR Lexington
  • Maryland
    • Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, 20910
      • Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
  • Michigan
    • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48236
      • Ascension St. John Hospital
  • Missouri
    • Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 64114
      • AMR Kansas City
  • Nevada
    • Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89119
      • AMR, Clinical Research Consortium- Las Vegas
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • University of Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19107
      • Thomas Jefferson University
  • Texas
    • San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78229
      • Tekton Research
    • Tomball, Texas, United States, 78229
      • DM Clinical Research
  • Utah
    • West Jordan, Utah, United States, 84088
      • Advanced Clinical Research

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Key Inclusion Criteria:

• Working or residing in an environment with high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 for whom exposure may be relatively prolonged or for whom personal protective equipment (PPE) may be inconsistently used, especially in confined settings.
• Phase 2 only: Screening laboratory results within normal limits for testing laboratory or are deemed not clinically significant by the Investigator.
• 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 (Phase 2) or until last dose (Phase 3).

Key Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute febrile illness with temperature higher than or equal to 100.4°F (38.0°C) or acute onset of upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, sore throat).
• Positive serologic or molecular (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)) test for SARS-CoV-2 at Screening (this criterion applies to all Phase 2 participants and only applies after approximately 402 participants positive for SARS-CoV-2 serologic test are randomized in the Phase 3 segment of the study).
• Pregnant or breastfeeding or intending to become pregnant or intending to father children within the projected duration of the trial starting from the Screening visit until 3 months following the last dose (Phase 2) or until last dose (Phase 3).
• Known history of uncontrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) based on clusters of differentiation (CD4) count less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter (/mm^3) or a detectable viral load within the past 3 months.
• Is currently participating or has participated in a study with an investigational product within 30 days preceding Day 0.
• Previous or planned receipt of an investigational (including Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or local equivalent authorization) or licensed vaccine for prevention or treatment of COVID-19, middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS), or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (documented receipt of placebo in previous trial would be permissible for trial eligibility).
• Respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) requiring significant changes in therapy or hospitalization for worsening disease during the 6 weeks prior to enrolment.
• Immunosuppression as a result of underlying illness or treatment.
• Lack of acceptable sites available for ID injection and EP.
• Blood donation or transfusion within 1 month prior to Day 0.
• Reported alcohol or substance abuse or dependence, or illicit drug use (excluding marijuana use).
• Any illness or condition that in the opinion of the investigator may affect the safety of the participant or the evaluation of any study endpoint.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

6

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Phase 2: INO-4800 Dose Group 1; Participants received one ID injection of 1.0 milligram (mg) of INO-4800 followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.	Drug: INO-4800; INO-4800 was administered ID on Day 0 and Day 28.; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of INO-4800 on Day 0 and Day 28.; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) on Day 0 and Day 28.
Experimental: Phase 2: INO-4800 Dose Group 2; Participants received two ID injections of 1.0 mg (total 2.0 mg per dosing visit) of INO-4800 followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.	Drug: INO-4800; INO-4800 was administered ID on Day 0 and Day 28.; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of INO-4800 on Day 0 and Day 28.; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) on Day 0 and Day 28.
Placebo Comparator: Phase 2: Placebo Dose Group 1; Participants received one ID injection of placebo followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.	Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of INO-4800 on Day 0 and Day 28.; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) on Day 0 and Day 28.; Drug: Placebo; Sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) was administered ID on Day 0 and Day 28.; Other Names: SSC-0001; Placebo for INO-4800
Placebo Comparator: Phase 2: Placebo Dose Group 2; Participants received 2 ID injections of placebo followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.	Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of INO-4800 on Day 0 and Day 28.; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) on Day 0 and Day 28.; Drug: Placebo; Sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) was administered ID on Day 0 and Day 28.; Other Names: SSC-0001; Placebo for INO-4800
Experimental: Phase 3: INO-4800 Dose Group (2.0mg per dosing visit); Participants received two 1.0 mg ID injections of INO-4800, each followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.	Drug: INO-4800; INO-4800 was administered ID on Day 0 and Day 28.; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of INO-4800 on Day 0 and Day 28.; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) on Day 0 and Day 28.
Placebo Comparator: Phase 3: Placebo Dose Group; Participants received 2 ID injections of placebo per dosing visit, each followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.	Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of INO-4800 on Day 0 and Day 28.; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000; EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device was administered following ID delivery of sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) on Day 0 and Day 28.; Drug: Placebo; Sterile saline sodium citrate (SSC) buffer (SSC-0001) was administered ID on Day 0 and Day 28.; Other Names: SSC-0001; Placebo for INO-4800

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Phase 2: Change From Baseline in Antigen-specific Cellular Immune Response Measured by Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) Enzyme-linked Immunospot (ELISpot) Assay	Whole blood and serum samples were collected for the cellular immunology assessment. The antigen-specific cellular immune response to INO-4800 was measured in spot-forming units per million peripheral blood mononuclear cells (SFU/10^6, PBMC) using ELISpot. No samples collected after Week 6 were analyzed.	Baseline up to Week 6
Phase 2: Change From Baseline in Neutralizing Antibody Response Measured by a Pseudovirus-based Neutralization Assay	The immune responses to INO-4800 were measured using assays that included a pseudovirus-based neutralization assay. Immunology blood samples were collected at serial timepoints. No samples collected after Week 6 were analyzed.	Baseline up to Week 6
Phase 3: Percentage of Participants (SARS-CoV-2 Seronegative at Baseline) With Virologically-confirmed COVID-19 Disease	Participants were virologically-confirmed cases of COVID-19, if tested positive by SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay, with symptoms like fever (temperature of 100.4ºF/38.0ºC or higher), chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea. Participants with no prior exposure to COVID-19 at baseline were considered for the analysis.	From 14 days after completion of the 2-dose regimen up to 3 months post-dose 2 (i.e. Day 42 up to Day 126)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Phase 2 and 3: Percentage of Participants With Solicited Injection Site Reactions	Reactions arising from the injectable product administration procedure were reported as injection site reactions. Injection site reactions were assessed in accordance with the 'Toxicity Grading Scale for Healthy Adult and Adolescent Volunteers Enrolled in Preventive Vaccine Clinical Trials' (Food and Drug Administration [FDA] Guidance for Industry, September 2007). Participants were provided a diary to record the solicited injection site reactions. Local reactions to the injectable product such as pain, tenderness, erythema/redness, and induration/swelling were recorded. Injection site reactions were evaluated starting 30 minutes following the injection. The solicited injection site reactions were recorded for 7 days after each dose.	7 days following each dose: Day 0 (Days 0 to Day 7) and Day 28 (Days 28 to Day 35)
Phase 2 and 3: Percentage of Participants With Unsolicited Injection Site Reactions	Reactions arising from the injectable product administration procedure were reported as injection site reactions. Injection site reactions were assessed in accordance with the 'Toxicity Grading Scale for Healthy Adult and Adolescent Volunteers Enrolled in Preventive Vaccine Clinical Trials' FDA Guidance for Industry, September 2007. Local reactions to the injectable product such as pain, tenderness, erythema/redness, and induration/swelling were reported. Injection site reactions were evaluated starting 30 minutes following the injection. Unsolicited injection site reactions were recorded for up to 28 days after administration of dose 2.	From first dose of study drug up to Day 56
Phase 2 and 3: Percentage of Participants With Solicited Adverse Events (AEs)	An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a trial intervention that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product. Participants were provided a diary to record the solicited systemic AEs. The solicited AEs were recorded for 7 days after each dose.	7 days following each dose: Day 0 (Days 0 to Day 7) and Day 28 (Days 28 to Day 35)
Phase 2 and 3: Percentage of Participants With Unsolicited AEs	An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a trial intervention that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product. Unsolicited AEs were recorded for up to 28 days after administration of dose 2.	From first dose of study drug up to Day 56
Phase 2 and 3: Percentage of Participants With Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)	An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a trial intervention that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An SAE is any untoward medical occurrence that at any dose results in death, is life-threatening, requires in-patient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, or results in congenital anomaly or birth defect.	Phase 2: From first dose of study drug up to Day 393; Phase 3: From first dose of study drug up to Day 126
Phase 2 and 3: Percentage of Participants With Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs)	An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a trial intervention that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AESI (serious or non-serious) is one of scientific and medical concern specific to the sponsor's product or program, for which ongoing monitoring and rapid communication by the investigator to the sponsor can be appropriate.	Phase 2: From first dose of study drug up to Day 393; Phase 3: From first dose of study drug up to Day 126
Phase 3: Number of Participants With Death From All Causes		Baseline up to Day 126
Phase 3: Percentage of Participants (SARS-CoV-2 Seronegative at Baseline) With Non-Severe COVID-19 Disease	The efficacy of INO-4800 in the prevention of COVID-19 disease was evaluated according to the degrees of COVID-19 disease severity in participants. Participants were confirmed cases of COVID-19, if tested positive by SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay, with symptoms like fever (temperature of 100.4ºF/38.0ºC or higher), chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea. The case definition of severe COVID-19 was participants with COVID-19 having clinical signs at rest indicative of severe systemic illness, respiratory failure, evidence of shock, significant acute renal, hepatic, or neurologic dysfunction, admission to an intensive care unit, or death. The case definition for non-severe COVID-19 was participants with confirmed COVID-19, and which did not meet the case definition of severe COVID-19.	From 14 days after completion of the 2-dose regimen up to 3 months post-dose 2 (i.e. Day 42 up to Day 126)
Phase 3: Percentage of Participants (SARS-CoV-2 Seronegative at Baseline) With Severe COVID-19 Disease	The efficacy of INO-4800 in the prevention of COVID-19 disease was evaluated according to the degrees of COVID-19 disease severity in participants. Participants were confirmed cases of COVID-19, if tested positive by SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay, with symptoms like fever (temperature of 100.4ºF/38.0ºC or higher), chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea. The case definition of severe COVID-19 was participants with COVID-19 having clinical signs at rest indicative of severe systemic illness, respiratory failure, evidence of shock, significant acute renal, hepatic, or neurologic dysfunction, admission to an intensive care unit, or death.	From 14 days after completion of the 2-dose regimen up to 3 months post-dose 2 (i.e. Day 42 up to Day 126)
Phase 3: Percentage of Participants (SARS-CoV-2 Seronegative at Baseline) With Death From COVID-19 Disease		From 14 days after completion of the 2-dose regimen up to 3 months post-dose 2 (i.e. Day 42 up to Day 126)
Phase 3: Percentage of Participants (SARS-CoV-2 Seropositive at Baseline) With Virologically-Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Disease	Participants were virologically-confirmed cases of COVID-19, if tested positive by SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay, with symptoms like fever (temperature of 100.4ºF/38.0ºC or higher), chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea. Participants with prior exposure to COVID-19 at baseline were considered for the analysis.	From 14 days after completion of the 2-dose regimen up to 3 months post-dose 2 (i.e. Day 42 up to Day 126)
Phase 3: Change From Baseline in Antigen-specific Cellular Immune Response Measured by IFN-gamma ELISpot Assay	Whole blood and serum samples were collected for the cellular immunology assessment. The antigen-specific cellular immune response to INO-4800 were measured using ELISpot.	Baseline up to Day 126
Phase 3: Change From Baseline in Neutralizing Antibody Response Measured by a Pseudovirus-based Neutralization Assay	The immune responses to INO-4800 were measured using assays that included a pseudovirus-based neutralization assay.	Baseline up to Day 126

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Inovio Pharmaceuticals
• Collaborators: Advaccine (Suzhou) Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
• Investigators: Study Director: Jose Suaya, Inovio Pharmaceuticals

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 30, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 13, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): September 13, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 23, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): November 24, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 20, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 29, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Healthy; COVID-19; DNA vaccine; Electroporation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections
• Other Study ID Numbers: COVID19-311; INNOVATE (Other Identifier: Inovio INO-4800 Vaccine Trial for Efficacy); WHO UTN: U1111-1266-9952 (Other Identifier: World Health Organization (WHO))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Data dictionaries and all collected IPD will be stripped of identifiers and may be made available upon request.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Anonymous IPD may be shared following or during the publication of summary data. Archival data may be accessed for up to 10 years following the end of the study.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Those who request the anonymous IPD must provide a plan of study explaining how the data will be used. Requests may be sent to the Central Contact Person. Requests will be reviewed based on the potential for the planned use of the IPD for advancing scientific knowledge and theory.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes