Higher Dose Intradermal H5 Vaccine

Influenza A viruses have the potential to cause worldwide epidemics and/or pandemics resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Two-hundred twenty-six healthy male and female subjects aged 18 to 49 years, inclusive, in the United States (US) will be enrolled into this single-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of intradermal (ID) and intramuscular (IM) injection with subvirion (SV) inactivated influenza A/H5N1 vaccine. The study will have two vaccine groups. Vaccine group 1: the subject will receive 0.1 mL of H5 Hemagglutination (HA) by the ID route in one arm and 0.1 mL of saline placebo by the IM route in the other arm. Vaccine group 2: the subject will receive 0.1 mL of H5 HA by the IM route in one arm and 0.1 mL of saline placebo by the ID route in the other arm. All eligible subjects will be enrolled and randomized 1:1 (113 subjects per vaccine group) to either vaccine group 1 or vaccine group 2. All subjects will receive two doses of approximately 30micrograms of H5 HA by their assigned route, either IM or ID, separated by approximately 28 days. At each vaccination visit, all subjects will also receive a saline placebo in the opposite arm by the different route as their vaccine route (i.e. if vaccine is administered by the ID route in one arm, then a saline placebo will be administered by the IM route in the opposite arm). The second vaccine dose will be administered by the same route as per vaccine group assigned at original randomization. Subjects will be observed in the clinic for approximately 15 minutes after each vaccination. Subjects will return on Day 2 for arm check and assessment of adverse events. All subjects will maintain a memory aid recording oral temperature, and systemic and local adverse events for 7 days after each vaccination. They will return to clinic on Day 8 for adverse event (AE) assessment, concomitant medication assessment, a targeted physical exam (if indicated), and review of memory aid. AE data will be captured Day 0 through Day 56. Serious AE data will be captured from Day 0 through the end of each subject's participation in the study (approximately 7 months). The subjects, staff assessing subjects, and lab personnel will be blinded. Serum for immunogenicity evaluations will be obtained prior to the first vaccination, at Day 0; prior to the second vaccination, at Day 28; on Day 56 and approximately Day 208 (7months after dose 1). The primary objectives are to compare the immunogenicity of a similar dosage level of a subvirion inactivated influenza A/H5N1 vaccine given by ID or IM injection one month after receipt of the second dose of vaccine and to compare the safety and reactogenicity of ID and IM immunization at a similar dosage level of a subvirion inactivated influenza A/H5N1 vaccine among healthy young adults. The secondary objective is to evaluate serum antibody responses approximately 1 and 7 months after the first vaccination. This study is linked to Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases protocol 07-0022.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or non-pregnant female between the ages of 18 and 49 years, inclusive.
• Women of childbearing potential (not surgically sterile or post menopausal for greater than or equal to 1 year) must agree to practice adequate contraception (i.e., barrier method, abstinence, intrauterine devices, or licensed hormonal methods) for the entire study period.
• Is in good health, as determined by vital signs (heart rate less than 100 beats per minute; blood pressure: systolic less than or equal to 140 mm Hg and greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg; diastolic less than or equal to 90 mm Hg; oral temperature less than 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit), medical history to ensure stable medical condition (see definition below) and a targeted physical examination based on medical history.

Stable medical condition - no recent change in prescription medication, dose, or frequency of medication in the last 3 months and health outcomes of the specific disease are considered to be within acceptable limits in the last 6 months. Any change that is due to change of health care provider, insurance company, etc, or is done for financial reasons, as long as in the same class of medication, will not be considered a violation of the inclusion criterion. Any change to prescription medication due to improvement of a disease outcome will not be considered a violation of the inclusion criterion.

• Able to understand and comply with planned study procedures.
• Provides written informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Has a known allergy to eggs or other components of the vaccine.
• Has a positive urine or serum pregnancy test prior to vaccination (if female of childbearing potential), is breastfeeding, or has the intention to become pregnant during the study period.
• Immunosuppression as a result of an underlying illness or treatment, or use of anti-cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy within the preceding 36 months.
• Has an active neoplastic disease or a history of any hematologic malignancy.
• Long term use of oral or parenteral steroids, high-dose inhaled steroids (greater than 800 mcg/day of beclomethasone dipropionate or equivalent) within the preceding 6 months (nasal and topical steroids are allowed).
• Has a history of receiving immunoglobulin or other blood product within the 3 months prior to vaccination in this study.
• Has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, Bi-polar disease or other major psychiatric diagnosis.
• Has been hospitalized for psychiatric illness, history of suicide attempt or confinement for danger to self or others.
• Is receiving psychiatric drugs (aripiprazole, clozapine, ziprasidone, haloperidol, molindone, loxapine, thioridazine, thiothixene, pimozide, fluphenazine, risperidone, mesoridazine, quetiapine, trifluoperazine, trifluopromazine, chlorprothixene, chlorpromazine, perphenazine, olanzapine, carbamazepine, divalproex sodium, lithium carbonate or lithium citrate). Subjects who are receiving a single antidepressant drug and are stable for at least 3 months prior to enrollment, without de-compensating symptoms will be allowed to be enrolled in the study.
• Has received any other licensed vaccines within 2 weeks (for inactivated vaccines) or 4 weeks (for live vaccines) prior to vaccination in this study.
• Has an acute or chronic medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render vaccination unsafe or would interfere with the evaluation of responses (this includes, but is not limited to: known chronic liver disease, significant renal disease, unstable or progressive neurological disorders, diabetes mellitus, and transplant recipients).
• Has a history of severe reactions following immunization with contemporary influenza virus vaccines.
• Has a moderate to severe acute illness and/or an oral temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, within 1 week of vaccination.
• Known active human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infection.
• History of alcohol or drug abuse in the 5 years prior to enrollment.
• Presence of any active skin disease on upper arms that could impact study product delivery or site assessment.
• Has a history of Guillain Barre syndrome.
• Received an experimental agent (vaccine, drug, biologic, device, blood product, or medication) within 1 month prior to vaccination in this study, or expects to receive an experimental agent during the 7-month study period.
• Participated in an Influenza A/H5 vaccine study in the past in a group receiving vaccine (but does not exclude documented placebo recipients).
• Is enrolled or planning to enroll in another interventional trial at any time between receipt of the first dose of vaccine and the end of the study (approximately 7 months after receipt of the first dose).
• Has any condition that would, in the opinion of the site investigator, place the subject at an unacceptable risk of injury or render the subject unable to meet the requirements of the protocol.