Efficacy of VTP-300 in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

A Phase 2b, Open-label Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, Immunogenicity and Treatment Regimens of VTP-300 Combined With Low-dose Nivolumab in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

This is an open-label study to determine the efficacy, safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of ChAdOx1-HBV and MVA-HBV, together VTP-300, in combination with low-dose nivolumab, in patients with chronic HBV who are virally suppressed with oral anti-viral therapies.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Hepatitis B
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: Nivolumab; Biological: ChAdOx1-HBV; Biological: MVA-HBV

Detailed Description

This is a multi-centre study conducted in 120 participants. All treatment groups will receive ChAdOx1-HBV on Day 1 and MVA-HBV on Day 29, and MVA boosts and nivolumab infusions as per treatment group as follows: Group 1: ChAdOx1-HBV, MVA-HBV and low dose nivolumab. Group 2: ChAdOx1-HBV, MVA HBV + low dose nivolumab, MVA HBV and low dose nivolumab. Group 3: ChAdOx1-HBV, MVA HBV, low dose nivolumab , MVA HBV. All participants return 7 days after each treatment (both immunotherapeutic and nivolumab infusion) visit to have chemistry and haematology safety laboratory studies obtained.

Participants are randomised to treatment in a 1:1:1 allocation. The primary objective of the study is to assess the efficacy of VTP-300 in combination with low-dose nivolumab in well-controlled CHB infection. The secondary objective of the study is to determine the safety and reactogenicity of the treatment regimens; this will be assessed by analysis of the incidence and severity of (serious) adverse events and any changes in laboratory values and vital signs. To assess the effect of VTP-300 in combination with low-dose nivolumab on the clearance of HBsAg and the impact of multiple booster doses of MVA-HBV and assess the appropriate timing of the use of low-dose nivolumab when used in combination with VTP-300.

Participants remain in the study for 12 months and attend clinic visits for treatment and assessments on Days 1, 8, 29, 36, 57, 85, 92, 113, 169, 252 and 336 (per Group allocation).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 121
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
    • Queen Mary Hospital
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
    • Prince of Wales Hospital
• Taiwan
  • Chiayi City, Taiwan
    • Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital
  • Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
    • Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung
  • Taipei, Taiwan
    • National Taiwan University Hospital
  • Taiwan
    • Chiayi City, Taiwan, Taiwan, 60002
      • Chia-Yi Christian Hospital
    • Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taiwan, 807
      • Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital
    • Taichung, Taiwan, Taiwan, 404332
      • China Medical University Hospital
    • Tainan, Taiwan, Taiwan, 704
      • National Cheng Kung University Hospital
    • Taoyuan City, Taiwan, Taiwan, 333
      • Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
• Thailand
  • Bangkok, Thailand
    • Hospital For Tropical Diseases
  • Chiang Mai, Thailand
    • Research Institute For Health Sciences
  • Khon Kaen, Thailand
    • Srinagarind Hospital
  • Thailand
    • Bangkok, Thailand, Thailand, 10210
      • Chulabhorn Hospital
    • Bangkok, Thailand, Thailand, 10330
      • King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital
    • Bangkok, Thailand, Thailand
      • HIV Netherlands-Australia-Thailand Research Collaboration
    • Chiang Mai, Thailand, Thailand, 50200
      • Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital
    • Nonthaburi, Thailand, Thailand, 11000
      • Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult males or females aged ≥18 to ≤65 years at screening (according to country/local regulations)
2. BMI ≤35 kg/m2
3. Able to provide informed consent indicating they understand the purpose of, and procedures required, for the study and are willing to participate
4. If female, willing not to become pregnant up to 8 weeks after the last dose of study vaccine and up to 5 months after the last dose of nivolumab

5. If female: Not pregnant or breast feeding and one of the following:

   • Of non-childbearing potential (i.e., women who have had a hysterectomy or tubal ligation or are postmenopausal, as defined by no menses in ≥1 year and without an alternative medical cause)

   • Of childbearing potential but agrees to practice highly effective contraception for 4 weeks prior to study vaccine and 8 weeks after VTP-300 and 5 months after the last dose of nivolumab. Highly effective methods of contraception include one or more of the following:

     • Male partner who is sterile (medically effective vasectomy) prior to the female participant's entry into the study and is the sole sexual partner for the female participant
     • Combined (oestrogen and progestogen-containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral, intravaginal or transdermal
     • Progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral, injectable or implantable
     • An intrauterine device
     • Bilateral tubal occlusion
     • Abstinence from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis) and agree to remain abstinent
6. Documented evidence of CHB infection (e.g., HBsAg positive ≥6 months with detectable HBsAg levels at screening; both HBeAg+ and HBeAg- allowed)
7. Receipt of only either entecavir, tenofovir (tenofovir alafenamide fumarate or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) or besifovir for at least 6 months before screening
8. HBV-DNA viral load ≤ 1,000 IU/mL
9. HBsAg levels > 10 and ≤ 4,000 IU/mL

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of any significant acute or chronic, uncontrolled medical or psychiatric illness in the opinion of the investigator would affect the safety of the participant or the evaluation of the data or interfere with adherence to the study requirements
2. Medical history that is thought to increase the participant's risk of reaction to a vaccine, including but not limited to capillary leak syndrome; transverse myelitis, Guillain Barré syndrome, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (also termed vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia); heparin-induced thrombocytopenia HCV RNA positive
3. HIV antibody positive and active hepatitis C (antibody positive and then DNA positive)
4. Co-infection with hepatitis D virus (HDV)
5. Documented cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis indicated by a liver biopsy within 6 months prior to Day 0 (Metavir activity grade A4 and stage F4; Ishak stages 5 - 6).

6. In the absence of a documented liver biopsy, either 1 of the following (not both):

   • Screening Fibroscan with a result >9 kilopascals (kPa) (or the equivalent) within ≤ 6 months of screening, OR
   • Both screening FibroTest >0.48 and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI) of >1.
7. ALT >3 x ULN, or INR >1.5 unless the participant was stable on an anticoagulant regimen affecting INR, albumin <3.2 g/dL, direct bilirubin >1.5 x ULN, platelet count <100,000/µL.
8. A history of liver decompensation (e.g., ascites, encephalopathy or variceal haemorrhage)
9. Prior hepatocellular carcinoma
10. Chronic liver disease of a non-HBV aetiology. (Note that Gilbert's syndrome, asymptomatic gallstones and non-alcoholic fatty liver not associated with steatohepatitis are not exclusions)
11. History or evidence of autoimmune disease or known immunodeficiency of any cause except history of autoimmune thyroiditis if the participant is stable on replacement therapy
12. Evidence of interstitial lung disease, active pneumonitis, myocarditis or a history of myocarditis
13. Prolonged therapy with immunomodulators (e.g., corticosteroids such as prednisone >10 mg/day) or biologics (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, IFN) within 3 months of Day 1. Inhaled, intra-articular, intra-bursal or topical corticosteroids are allowed. Physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency is allowed.
14. Receipt of immunoglobulin or other blood products within 3 months prior to Day 1
15. Receipt of any investigational drug or vaccine within 3 months prior to Day 1
16. Receipt of any non-oral adenoviral-based vaccine within 3 months prior to administration of ChAdOx1-HBV on Day 1
17. Severe reaction to any vaccine, requiring medical attention
18. Receipt of any live vaccines within 30 days prior to Day 1
19. Receipt of any inactivated non-live vaccines (e.g., mRNA, inactivated vaccines, toxoid vaccines) within 14 days prior to Day 1
20. History of severe hypersensitivity or anaphylactic reactions likely to be exacerbated by any component of VTP-300 or nivolumab, including severe allergy to egg
21. Malignancy within 5 years prior to screening with the exception of basal cell or squamous epithelial carcinomas of the skin that have been resected with no evidence of metastatic disease for 3 years. Participants under evaluation for possible malignancy are not eligible
22. Current alcohol or substance abuse judged by the investigator to potentially interfere with participant safety or compliance
23. Any laboratory test which is abnormal, and which is deemed by the investigator to be clinically significant
24. Any other finding that, in the opinion of the investigator, deems the participant unsuitable for the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental: Group 1 ChAdOx1-HBV, MVA-HBV and nivolumab; Day 1: ChAdOx1-HBV 1 x 2.5 10^10 vp IM injection Day 29: MVA-HBV 1 x 10^8 pfu IM injection + nivolumab 0.3 mg/kg IV infusion	Biological: Nivolumab; Human immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody; Other Names: Opdivo 10mg/ml concentrate for solution for infusion; Biological: ChAdOx1-HBV; Chimpanzee Adenovirus Oxford 1-vectored Hepatitis B virus immunotherapeutic; Biological: MVA-HBV; Modified Vaccinia Ankara-vectored Hepatitis B virus immunotherapeutic
Experimental: Experimental: Group 2 ChAdOx1-HBV, MVA-HBV and nivolumab, MVA-HBV and nivolumab; Day 1: ChAdOx1-HBV 1 x 2.5 10^10 vp IM injection Day 29: MVA-HBV 1 x 10^8 pfu IM injection + nivolumab 0.3 mg/kg IV infusion Day 85: MVA-HBV 1 x 10^8 pfu IM injection + nivolumab 0.3 mg/kg IV infusion	Biological: Nivolumab; Human immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody; Other Names: Opdivo 10mg/ml concentrate for solution for infusion; Biological: ChAdOx1-HBV; Chimpanzee Adenovirus Oxford 1-vectored Hepatitis B virus immunotherapeutic; Biological: MVA-HBV; Modified Vaccinia Ankara-vectored Hepatitis B virus immunotherapeutic
Experimental: Experimental: Group 3 ChAdOx1-HBV, MVA-HBV, nivolumab, MVA-HBV; Day 1: ChAdOx1-HBV 1 x 2.5 10^10 vp IM injection Day 29: MVA-HBV 1 x 10^8 pfu IM injection Day 36: Nivolumab 0.3 mg/kg IV infusion Day 85: MVA-HBV 1 x 10^8 pfu IM injection	Biological: Nivolumab; Human immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody; Other Names: Opdivo 10mg/ml concentrate for solution for infusion; Biological: ChAdOx1-HBV; Chimpanzee Adenovirus Oxford 1-vectored Hepatitis B virus immunotherapeutic; Biological: MVA-HBV; Modified Vaccinia Ankara-vectored Hepatitis B virus immunotherapeutic

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The incidence of participants with a greater than 1 log HBsAg	Percentage of participants with a greater than 1 log HBsAg reduction at 6 months after initiation of therapy	6 months after the initiation of therapy

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The incidence of participants with Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and ≥Grade 3 related adverse events following study treatment	The incidence of TEAEs and and ≥Grade 3 related adverse events will be based on the number and percentage of participants with events and number of events. TEAEs are defined as all adverse events occurring after study IMP administration; they will be further categorised by Seriousness, Severity (i.e. ≥ Grade 3) and Causality.	From each study vaccination for the following 7 days
The incidence of participants with Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and ≥Grade 3 related adverse events following administration with nivolumab	The incidence of TEAEs and ≥Grade 3 related adverse events will be based on the number and percentage of participants with events and number of events. TEAEs are defined as all adverse events occurring after study IMP administration with nivolumab; they are further categorised by Seriousness, Severity (i.e. ≥ Grade 3) according to FDA Guidance 70 FR 22664 and Causality.	From each study administration with nivolumab for the following 7days
The incidence of participants with Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs)	AESIs specific to this study include pneumonitis, grade 3 or 4 diarrhoea, diabetes, thyroid diseases, colitis, nephritis, immune-related endocrinopathies, myocarditis, immune-related skin conditions, or other unspecified immune-related adverse reactions	From study admission (the signature of informed consent) to the end of the study (Month 12)
The incidence of participants with Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) within each study group	The incidence of TEAEs will be based on the number and proportion of participants with events and number of events and will be calculated for each of the three study groups	From each study administration for the following 7 days
Incidence of participants with potentially clinically significant laboratory signs within each treatment group as assessed by the Investigator	The incidence of participants will be based upon the number and proportion of patients in each treatment group with clinically significant laboratory signs (haematology and biochemistry, including liver function tests) as assessed by the investigator. All laboratory signs will be reported in SI units. If any laboratory sign is considered to be clinically significant i.e. outside laboratory normal reference range, the severity of this sign will be assessed according to the FDA Guidance for Industry 70 FR 22664. Absolute change, change from baseline and worst change for each participant will be calculated. The incidence of participants with treatment-emergent, clinically significant laboratory signs and laboratory signs of Grade 3-4 severity will be calculated for each treatment group at each time point	Baseline, Day 8, Day 29, Day 36, Day 57, Day 85, Day 92, Day 113, Day 169, Day 252 and Day 336
Incidence of participants with potentially clinically significant vital signs within each treatment group as assessed by the Investigator	The incidence of participants will be based upon the number and proportion of patients in each treatment group with clinically significant vital signs. Vital signs will be considered to be potentially clinically significant if they respectively fall below or above the relevant upper and lower limits. The incidence of participants with treatment-emergent, clinically significant vital signs will be calculated for each treatment group at each time point.	Baseline, Day 8, Day 29, Day 36, Day 57, Day 85, Day 92, Day 113, Day 169, Day 252 and Day 336
Number of participants with worst changes from baseline in laboratory hematology parameters	Hematology laboratory values will be evaluated according to the Toxicity Grading Scale for Healthy Adult and Adolescent Volunteers Enrolled in Preventive Vaccine Clinical Trials (FDA). For all hematology parameters, changes from baseline of at least two severity grades will be calculated for each timepoint at which the laboratory test is conducted throughout the study. The number of participants showing shifts of at least two severity grades (as worst change from baseline for each hematology parameter) will be presented within shift tables.	Baseline, Day 8, Day 29, Day 36, Day 57, Day 85, Day 92, Day 113, Day 169, Day 252 and Day 336
Number of participants with worst changes from baseline in laboratory biochemistry parameters	Biochemistry laboratory values will be evaluated according to the Toxicity Grading Scale for Healthy Adult and Adolescent Volunteers Enrolled in Preventive Vaccine Clinical Trials (FDA). For all biochemistry parameters, changes from baseline of at least two severity grades will be calculated for each timepoint at which the laboratory test is conducted throughout the study. The number of participants showing shifts of at least two severity grades (as worst change from baseline for each biochemistry parameter) will be presented within shift tables.	Baseline, Day 8, Day 29, Day 36, Day 57, Day 85, Day 92, Day 113, Day 169, Day 252 and Day 336
Number of participants with worst changes from baseline in laboratory urinalysis parameters	Urinalysis laboratory values will be evaluated according to the Toxicity Grading Scale for Healthy Adult and Adolescent Volunteers Enrolled in Preventive Vaccine Clinical Trials (FDA). For all urinalysis parameters, changes from baseline of at least two severity grades will be calculated for each timepoint at which the laboratory test is conducted throughout the study. The number of participants showing shifts of at least two severity grades (as worst change from baseline for each urinalysis parameter) will be presented within shift tables.	Baseline, Day 8, Day 29, Day 36, Day 57, Day 85, Day 92, Day 113, Day 169, Day 252 and Day 336
Number of participants with worst changes from baseline in vital signs parameters (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and temperature)	Worst change is defined as the lowest and highest post-baseline values for heart rate (bradycardia, tachycardia) and systolic blood pressure (hypotension, hypertension), and as the highest post-baseline values for diastolic blood pressure (hypertension) and temperature (fever). For all vital signs' measurements, changes from baseline will be calculated for each timepoint at which the vital sign measurement is conducted throughout the study. The number of participants showing worst change from baseline for the vital signs parameters overall will be presented within shift tables.	Baseline, Day 8, Day 29, Day 36, Day 57, Day 85, Day 92, Day 113, Day 169, Day 252 and Day 336
T cell response to the HBV antigen inserts of VTP-300 as measured by interferon (IFN)-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot)	This will be determined by using PMBCs in IFN-γ ELISpot assays to investigate the breadth of HBV specific T cell responses (defined by number of peptide pools or individual peptides recognised). These data may be used to build immunologic models of the immune system.	Baseline, Day 8, Day 29, Day 36, Day 57, Day 85, Day 92, Day 113, Day 169, Day 252 and Day 336

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Barinthus Biotherapeutics

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 21, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 13, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): January 13, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 12, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 25, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: HBV, Chronic Hep B
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Blood-Borne Infections; Pathologic Processes; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Infections; Virus Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Liver Diseases; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Communicable Diseases; DNA Virus Infections; Hepadnaviridae Infections; Hepatitis, Chronic; Hepatitis; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Proteins; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immunoproteins; Blood Proteins; Serum Globulins; Globulins; Nivolumab; Solutions
• Other Study ID Numbers: HBV-003

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No