Preliminary assessment of the efficacy of a T-cell-based influenza vaccine, MVA-NP+M1, in humans
Patrick J Lillie, Tamara K Berthoud, Timothy J Powell, Teresa Lambe, Caitlin Mullarkey, Alexandra J Spencer, Matthew Hamill, Yanchun Peng, Marie-Eve Blais, Christopher J A Duncan, Susanne H Sheehy, Tom Havelock, Saul N Faust, Rob Lambkin Williams, Anthony Gilbert, John Oxford, Tao Dong, Adrian V S Hill, Sarah C Gilbert, Patrick J Lillie, Tamara K Berthoud, Timothy J Powell, Teresa Lambe, Caitlin Mullarkey, Alexandra J Spencer, Matthew Hamill, Yanchun Peng, Marie-Eve Blais, Christopher J A Duncan, Susanne H Sheehy, Tom Havelock, Saul N Faust, Rob Lambkin Williams, Anthony Gilbert, John Oxford, Tao Dong, Adrian V S Hill, Sarah C Gilbert
Abstract
Background: The novel influenza vaccine MVA-NP+M1 is designed to boost cross-reactive T-cell responses to internal antigens of the influenza A virus that are conserved across all subtypes, providing protection against both influenza disease and virus shedding against all influenza A viruses. Following a phase 1 clinical study that demonstrated vaccine safety and immunogenicity, a phase 2a vaccination and influenza challenge study has been conducted in healthy adult volunteers.
Methods: Volunteers with no measurable serum antibodies to influenza A/Wisconsin/67/2005 received either a single vaccination with MVA-NP+M1 or no vaccination. T-cell responses to the vaccine antigens were measured at enrollment and again prior to virus challenge. All volunteers underwent intranasal administration of influenza A/Wisconsin/67/2005 while in a quarantine unit and were monitored for symptoms of influenza disease and virus shedding.
Results: Volunteers had a significantly increased T-cell response to the vaccine antigens following a single dose of the vaccine, with an increase in cytolytic effector molecules. Intranasal influenza challenge was undertaken without safety issues. Two of 11 vaccinees and 5 of 11 control subjects developed laboratory-confirmed influenza (symptoms plus virus shedding). Symptoms of influenza were less pronounced in the vaccinees and there was a significant reduction in the number of days of virus shedding in those vaccinees who developed influenza (mean, 1.09 days in controls, 0.45 days in vaccinees, P = .036).
Conclusions: This study provides the first demonstration of clinical efficacy of a T-cell-based influenza vaccine and indicates that further clinical development should be undertaken.
Clinical trials registration: NCT00993083.
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Source: PubMed