A Phase 1/2 Safety and Immunogenicity Trial of COVID-19 Vaccine COVIVAC (Phase 1)

A Phase 1/2 Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Observer-blind Trial to Assess the Safety and Immunogenicity of COVIVAC Vaccine Produced by IVAC in Adults Aged 18-60 Years in Vietnam

This prospective, single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blind Phase 1/2 study includes two separate parts.

Part 1 is a first-in-human, Phase 1 study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of the COVIVAC vaccine at three different dose levels (1, 3, and 10 µg) without adjuvant, and at one dose level (1 µg) with the adjuvant CpG 1018, in a total of 120 subjects aged 18-59 years. (Part 2 will be registered in a separate record)

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pneumonia, Viral; COVID-19 Vaccine; COVID-19 Disease; SARS Pneumonia
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: COVIVAC; Biological: Phosphate-buffered saline

Detailed Description

This prospective, single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blind Phase 1/2 study includes two separate parts.

Part 1 is a first-in-human, Phase 1 study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of the COVIVAC vaccine at three different dose levels (1, 3, and 10 µg) without adjuvant, and at one dose level (1 µg) with the adjuvant CpG 1018, in a total of 120 subjects aged 18-59 years.

An interim analysis of Phase 1 data conducted after the last subject last visit for V6 (D57) will serve as the basis for decisions about down selection and advancing to Part 2 of the study (Phase 2). Down selection and advancement to Part 2 (Phase 2) will be based on the following parameters:

• Post-dose 2 immunogenicity results at the aggregate treatment level

  o A threshold immune response at Visit 5 (D43) will be required: the observed seroresponse rate in a treatment group (defined as the percentage of subjects with at least a 4-fold rise from baseline in 80% neutralizing antibody titers) will need to be ≥52% at the LL of the 95% CI for that treatment (vaccine formulation) to be considered for advancement to Phase 2.

• Post-dose 1 and post dose 2 safety results including all solicited and unsolicited adverse events, serious adverse events, and clinical laboratory results.

The following process will be followed for the decision about down selection and advancing to Part 2 (Phase 2):

• The DSMB will review the unblinded safety data and provide a recommendation to the Sponsor on whether the safety profile is acceptable for advancing a formulation to Phase 2.

• The Sponsor will review the DSMB recommendation in conjunction with the immunogenicity data and select two formulations to advance to Phase 2.

  o If multiple formulations achieve the threshold immune response (as well as have an adequate safety and tolerability profile per the DSMB), the Sponsor will select two formulations to advance to Phase 2 based on consideration of such factors as the relative functional immunogenicity of these formulations, opportunity for dose sparing, and opportunity to limit cost and possible supply constraints associated with use of the CpG adjuvant.

• The selection and recommendation to advance to Phase 2 along with the interim report will be jointly reviewed by NIHE's IRB and MoH prior to Phase 2 enrollment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 120
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Vietnam
  • Hanoi, Vietnam, 10000
    • Hanoi Medical University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 71 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Phase 1 Only:

1. Adult 18 through 59 years of age inclusive at the time of randomization.
2. Healthy, as defined by absence of clinically significant medical condition, either acute or chronic, as determined by medical history, physical examination, screening laboratory test results, and clinical assessment of the investigator.
3. Has provided written informed consent prior to performance of any study-specific procedure.
4. Has a body mass index (BMI) of 17 to 40 kg/m2, inclusive, at screening.
5. Resides in study site area and is able and willing to adhere to all protocol visits and procedures.
6. If a woman is of childbearing potential, must not be breastfeeding or be pregnant (based on a negative urine pregnancy test at screening and during the 24 hours prior to receipt of the first dose of IP), must plan to avoid pregnancy for at least 28 days after the last dose of IP, and be willing to use an adequate method of contraception consistently and have a repeated pregnancy test prior to the second (last) dose of IP.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Use of any investigational medicinal product within 90 days prior to randomization or planned use of such a product during the period of study participation.

2. History of administration of any non-study vaccine within 28 days prior to administration of study vaccine or planned vaccination within 3 months after enrolment.

   Note: receipt of any COVID-19 vaccine that is licensed or granted Emergency Use Authorization in Vietnam during the course of study participation is not exclusionary if administered after Visit 5.

3. Previous receipt of investigational vaccine for SARS or MERS, or any investigational or licensed vaccine that may have an impact on interpretation of the trial results
4. History of hypersensitivity reaction to any prior vaccination or known hypersensitivity to any component of the study vaccine
5. History of egg or chicken allergy
6. History of angioedema
7. History of anaphylaxis
8. Acute illness (moderate or severe) and/or fever (body temperature measured orally ≥38°C)
9. Any abnormal vital sign deemed clinically relevant by the PI
10. Abnormality in screening laboratory test deemed exclusionary by the PI in consultation with the Sponsor
11. A positive serologic test for hepatitis B (HBsAg) or hepatitis C (HCV Ab)
12. History of confirmed HIV
13. History of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19
14. History of malignancy, excluding non-melanoma skin and cervical carcinoma in situ
15. Any confirmed or suspected immunosuppressive or immunodeficient state
16. Administration of immunoglobulin or any blood product within 90 days prior to first study injection or planned administration during the study period.
17. Administration of any long-acting immune-modifying drugs (e.g., infliximab or rituximab) or the chronic administration (defined as more than 14 days) of immunosuppressants within six months prior to first study injection, or planned administration during the study period (includes systemic corticosteroids at doses equivalent to ≥ 0.5 mg/kg/day of prednisone; the use of topical steroids including inhaled and intranasal steroids is permitted).
18. History of known disturbance of coagulation or blood disorder that could cause anemia or excess bleeding. (e.g, thalassemia, coagulation factor deficiencies).
19. Recent history (within the past year) or signs of alcohol or substance abuse.
20. Any medical, psychiatric or behavior condition that in the opinion of the PI may interfere with the study objectives, pose a risk to the subject, or prevent the subject from completing the study follow-up.
21. Employee of any person employed by the Sponsor, the contract research organization (CRO), the PI, study site personnel, or site.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

5

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: COVIVAC 1mcg; 1mcg IVAC COVIVAC vaccine for intramuscular injection administered as two doses (0.5mL each) 28 days apart.	Biological: COVIVAC; COVIVAC vaccine, manufactured by IVAC with or without adjuvant CpG1018 for prevention of COVID-19
Experimental: COVIVAC 3mcg; 3mcg IVAC COVIVAC vaccine for intramuscular injection administered as two doses (0.5mL each) 28 days apart.	Biological: COVIVAC; COVIVAC vaccine, manufactured by IVAC with or without adjuvant CpG1018 for prevention of COVID-19
Experimental: COVIVAC 10mcg; 10mcg IVAC COVIVAC vaccine for intramuscular injection administered as two doses (0.5mL each) 28 days apart.	Biological: COVIVAC; COVIVAC vaccine, manufactured by IVAC with or without adjuvant CpG1018 for prevention of COVID-19
Experimental: COVIVAC 1mcg + CpG1018 1.5mg; 1mcg + CpG1018 IVAC COVIVAC vaccine for intramuscular injection administered as two doses (0.5mL each) 28 days apart.	Biological: COVIVAC; COVIVAC vaccine, manufactured by IVAC with or without adjuvant CpG1018 for prevention of COVID-19
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.2) for intramuscular injection administered as two doses (0.5mL each) 28 days apart.	Biological: Phosphate-buffered saline; Phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2), manufactured by IVAC

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Solicited Adverse Events	Percentage of participants with solicited local and systemic adverse events (AEs)	During the first 7 days after each vaccination
Clinical Safety Tests	Percentage of participants with clinically significant hematological and biochemical abnormalities	At 7 days post each vaccination
Unsolicited Adverse Events	Number of participants with any unsolicited adverse event	During the first 28 days after each vaccination
Serious Adverse Event	Number of participants with serious adverse events (SAEs)	Throughout the Study Period (until Day 197)
Medical Attended Adverse Events	Number of participants with medically-attended AEs (MAAEs)	Throughout the Study Period (until Day 197)
Adverse Event of Special Interest	Number of participants with adverse events of special interest (AESI) , including AESI relevant to COVID-19, and potential immune-mediated medical conditions (PIMMC)	Throughout the Study Period (until Day 197)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
GMT of 50% Neutralizing Antibody (NT50)	50% neutralizing antibody (NT50) geometric mean titer (GMT) against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus	GMT of NT50 at 28 days after first vaccination, at 14 days and 6 months after the second vaccination
Geometric Mean Fold Rise (GMFR)	Geometric mean fold rise (GMFR) (from baseline) in NT50 against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus	GMFR at 28 days after first vaccination, at 14 days and 6 months after the second vaccination
Seroresponse in NT50	Percentage of subjects with NT50 seroresponse against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus as defined by (1) a ≥ 4-fold increase from baseline, and (2) a ≥ 10-fold increase from baseline	Seroresponse at 28 days after first vaccination, at 14 days and 6 months after the second vaccination
Anti-S IgG GMC	Immunogenicity outcome measurement	GMC of Anti-S IgG at 28 days after the first vaccination, at 14 days and 6 months after the second vaccination
GMFR in Anti-S IgG GMC	GMFR (from baseline) in anti-S IgG GMC	GMFR at 28 days after the first vaccination, 14 days and 6 months after the second vaccination
Seroresponse in Anti-S IgG Concentration	Percentage of subjects with seroresponses in anti-S IgG titer as defined by (1) a ≥ 4-fold increase from baseline, and (2) a ≥ 10-fold increase from baseline	Seroresponse at 28 days after the first vaccination, 14 days and 6 months after the second vaccination

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, Vietnam
• Collaborators: National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Vietnam; Hanoi Medical University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Duc Dang A, Dinh Vu T, Hai Vu H, Thanh Ta V, Thi Van Pham A, Thi Ngoc Dang M, Van Le B, Huu Duong T, Van Nguyen D, Lawpoolsri S, Chinwangso P, McLellan JS, Hsieh CL, Garcia-Sastre A, Palese P, Sun W, Martinez JL, Gonzalez-Dominguez I, Slamanig S, Manuel Carreno J, Tcheou J, Krammer F, Raskin A, Minh Vu H, Cong Tran T, Mai Nguyen H, Mercer LD, Raghunandan R, Lal M, White JA, Hjorth R, Innis BL, Scharf R. Safety and immunogenicity of an egg-based inactivated Newcastle disease virus vaccine expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike: Interim results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 trial in Vietnam. Vaccine. 2022 Jun 9;40(26):3621-3632. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.04.078. Epub 2022 May 14.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 10, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 6, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): October 31, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 12, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 1, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): April 5, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 20, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccine; COVIVAC; COVID-19 disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; COVID-19; Pneumonia; Pneumonia, Viral
• Other Study ID Numbers: COVIVAC-0102 (phase 1)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: There should be an agreement and approval by IRB before sharing IDP

Drug and device information, study documents

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