Pivotal Study to Evaluate Safety and Immunogenicity of a Live-Attenuated Chikungunya Virus Vaccine Candidate in Adults

This was a prospective, double-blinded, multicenter, randomized, pivotal Phase 3 study and 4.128 participants aged 18 years or above were randomized in a 3:1 ratio to the live-attenuated CHIKV vaccine candidate (VLA1553) or placebo. The final dose of lyophilized VLA1553 or placebo was administered as a single intramuscular immunization. Subjects in this study were stratified into two age strata of 18 to 64 years and 65 years of age or above. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the final dose of VLA1553 28 days following the single immunization. Immunogenicity evaluations in the immunogenicity subset included the proportion of subjects with seroprotective neutralizing CHIKV antibody titers above a surrogate threshold indicative of protection. The surrogate of protection reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit has been established in non-human primate passive transfer studies using human sera from the Phase 1 study and was supported by sero-epidemiological studies. Safety data collection and immunogenicity were assessed until Month 6.

The first enrolled and randomized 501 subjects comprised the immunogenicity subset.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age or above on the Day of screening
• able to provide informed consent
• generally healthy as determined by the Investigator's clinical judgement based on medical history, physical examination and screening laboratory tests
• for women of childbearing potential:

• practiced an adequate method of contraception during 30 days before screening
• negative serum or urine pregnancy test at screening
• agreed to employ adequate birth control measures for the first three months post-vaccination.

Main Exclusion Criteria:

• CHIKV infection in the past, including suspected CHIKV infection; was taking medication or other treatment for unresolved symptoms attributed to a previous CHIKV infection; or had participated in a clinical study involving an investigational CHIKV vaccine
• acute or recent infection
• Subject tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis C virus (HCV);
• live virus vaccine within 28 days or inactivated vaccine within 14 days prior to vaccination in this study or planned to receive a vaccine within 28 days or 14 days after vaccination, respectively
• abnormal findings in any required study investigations (including medical history, physical examination, and clinical laboratory) considered clinically relevant by the Investigator which pose a risk for participation in the study
• medical history of or currently had acute or progressive, unstable or uncontrolled clinical conditions that posed a risk for participation in the study
• history of immune-mediated or clinically relevant arthritis / arthralgia
• history of malignancy in the past 5 years other than squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer. If there had been surgical excision or treatment more than 5 years ago that was considered to have achieved a cure, the subject could be enrolled.
• known or suspected defect of the immune system, such as subjects with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, including infection with HIV, status post organ transplantation or immuno-suppressive therapy within 4 weeks prior to vaccination.
• history of any vaccine related contraindicating event (e.g., anaphylaxis, allergy to components of the candidate vaccine, other known contraindications)
• with clinical conditions representing a contraindication to intramuscular vaccination and blood draws
• pregnant or lactating at the time of enrollment
• Donation of blood, blood fractions or plasma within 30 days or received blood-derived products (e.g. plasma) within 90 days prior to vaccination in this study or planned to donate blood or used blood products until Day 180 of the study
• rash, dermatological condition or tattoos that would, in the opinion of the Investigator, interfere with injection site reaction rating
• known or suspected problem with alcohol or drug abuse as determined by the Investigator
• any condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, could compromise the subjects well-being, interfere with evaluation of study endpoints, or would limit the subject's ability to complete the study;
• committed to an institution (by virtue of an order issued either by the judicial or the administrative authorities)
• Participation in another clinical study involving an investigational medicinal product (IMP) or device within 30 days prior to study enrollment or is scheduled to participate in another clinical study involving an IMP, or device during the course of this study
• member of the team conducting the study or in a dependent relationship with one of the study team members. Dependent relationships include close relatives (i.e., children, partner/spouse, siblings, parents) as well as employees of the Investigator or site personnel conducting the study.