Evaluation of a 3-dose Vaccination Regimen With One of Three Ascending Dose Levels of Clostridium Difficile Vaccine With or Without Adjuvant in Healthy Adults Aged 50 to 85 Years

Inclusion criteria

• Evidence of a personally signed and dated informed consent document.
• Healthy male and female adults aged 50 to 85 years at enrollment as determined by medical history, physical examination, and the clinical judgment of the investigator to be eligible for the study. Subjects with preexisting chronic medical conditions determined to be stable may be included.
• Male subjects who, in the opinion of the investigator, are biologically capable of fathering children, and who are sexually active with women of childbearing potential must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception from the time of informed consent through at least 28 days after the last dose of investigational product (through Visit 9 at Month 7).
• Female subjects who are not of childbearing potential (ie, meet at least one of the following criteria):

• Have undergone hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy;
• Have medically confirmed ovarian failure or
• Are medically confirmed to be postmenopausal
• Availability for the entire duration of the study, and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures including completion of the electronic diary (eDiary) from Day 1 to Day 7 following each vaccination.
• Ability to be contacted by telephone during study participation.

Exclusion criteria

• Previous administration of an investigational C. difficile vaccine or C. difficile monoclonal antibody therapy.
• Proven or suspected prior episode of CDAD.
• Unstable chronic medical condition or disease requiring significant change in therapy or hospitalization for worsening disease within 12 weeks before receipt of study vaccine.
• Serious chronic medical disorders including metastatic malignancy, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , end stage renal disease with or without dialysis, clinically unstable cardiac disease, or any other disorder that in the investigator's opinion precludes the subject from participating in the study.
• Donation of blood volume of 250 mL or greater, or donation of plasma within 3 months prior to enrollment or during the conduct of the study.
• Bleeding diathesis or condition associated with prolonged bleeding time that may contraindicate intramuscular injection or blood draw including subjects taking anticoagulant, antiplatelet and/or antithrombotic agents except for low dose daily aspirin (≤325mg per day) within 30 days before enrollment through completion of Visit 9 (Month 7).
• Any contraindication to vaccination or vaccine components.
• "Immunocompromised persons or subjects currently on immunosuppressive therapy or with a history of immunosuppressive therapy, including chemotherapy agents for treatment of diseases including, but not limited to cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or autoimmune disease. Recent history (within the past 6 months) of long term (7 days or longer) systemic corticosteroid use."
• Subjects who received oral or parenteral antibiotics within 1 month before enrollment. Topical antibiotics are allowed.
• Receipt of blood products or immunoglobulins (including monoclonal antibodies) within 6 months before enrollment through conclusion of the study.
• Participation in other investigational or interventional studies within 30 days before the current study begins and/or during study participation. Participation in purely observational studies is acceptable.
• Subjects who are investigational site staff members or relatives of those site staff members, or subjects who are Pfizer employees directly involved in the conduct of the trial.
• Females of childbearing potential; males of childbearing potential not using highly effective contraception or not agreeing to continue highly effective contraception for at least 28 days after last dose of investigational product (through Visit 9 at Month 7).
• Females receiving exogenous estrogen therapy.
• Residence in a nursing home, long-term care facility, requirement for semiskilled nursing care or assisted living. An ambulatory subject who lives in an autonomous manner in a retirement home or village is eligible for the trial.
• Any abnormality in screening hematology and/or blood chemistry laboratory values according to the toxicity grading scale. Subjects with stable Grade 1 abnormalities for hemoglobin, leukocyte count, and platelets may be considered eligible at the discretion of the investigator.
• A positive screening test or known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV).
• Other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or investigational product administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the subject inappropriate for entry into this study.