Safety and Immunogenicity Of A Recombinant H5N1 Vaccine In Adults

Inclusion criteria

Subjects accepted for this study must meet the following inclusion criteria:

• Male or female aged 18 to 49 years inclusive
• Able to give written informed consent to participate
• Healthy as determined by medical history, physical examination, vital signs, and clinical safety laboratory examinations at baseline
• Females should fulfill one of the following criteria:

• At least 1 year post-menopausal
• Surgically sterile
• Will use oral, implantable, transdermal, or injectable contraceptives for 30 days prior to first vaccination and until 28 days after each vaccination
• Willing to abstain from sexual intercourse or use another reliable form of contraception approved by the investigator (e.g., intrauterine device [IUD], female condom, diaphragm with spermicide, cervical cap, use of condom by the sexual partner, or a sterile sexual partner) for study duration and until 28 days after vaccination
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test within 24 hours preceding receipt of each dose
• Comprehension of the study requirements, expressed availability for the required study period, and ability to attend scheduled visits and to be contacted by telephone throughout the follow-up period

Exclusion criteria

Any of the following are cause for exclusion from the study:

• Prior receipt of any influenza vaccine containing H5
• Presence of significant uncontrolled medical or psychiatric illness (acute or chronic); includes institution of new medical or surgical treatment or a significant dose alteration for uncontrolled symptoms or drug toxicity within 3 months of screening and reconfirmed on Day 1 prior to vaccination
• Positive serology for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1 or HIV 2), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). or hepatitis C (HCV)
• Cancer or treatment for cancer within 3 years excluding basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma which are allowed
• Presence of any medical condition that may be associated with impaired immune responsiveness, including diabetes mellitus
• Presently receiving (or has a history of receiving) during the preceding 3 month period any medications or other treatments that may adversely affect the immune system, such as allergy injections, immune globulin, interferon, immunomodulators, cytotoxic drugs; other drugs known to be frequently associated with significant major organ toxicity; or systemic (oral or injectable) corticosteroids (inhaled and topical corticosteroids allowed)
• Receipt or planned administration of a nonstudy vaccine within 30 days prior to vaccination and during the study (Immunization on an emergency basis with Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed for adult use vaccine-tetanus and diphtheria [Td] or tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis [Tdap] up to 8 days before or at least 8 days after a dose of study vaccine will be allowed, and administration of study vaccine injection can be delayed if a nonstudy vaccine has been administered and will be given as soon as acceptable [as described above] provided the vaccine is not administered within 2 weeks prior to study enrollment.)
• History of significant allergic reactions (anaphylactic-type reactions, respiratory difficulties, or angioedema) to injected vaccines or to any of the study vaccine components
• History of drug or chemical abuse in the year before the study; positive urine drug screen at screening.
• Receipt of any investigational product or nonregistered drug within the 30 days prior to vaccination or currently enrolled in any investigational drug study or intends to enroll in such a study within the ensuing study period
• Receipt of blood or blood products 8 weeks prior to vaccination or planned administration during the study period
• Donation of blood or blood products within 8 weeks prior to vaccination or at any time during the study
• Acute disease within 72 hours prior to vaccination defined as the presence of a moderate or severe illness (as determined by the investigator through medical history and physical examination) with or without fever, or a fever >38ºC orally (Study vaccine can be administered to persons with a minor illness, such as diarrhea, or mild upper respiratory tract infection with or without low-grade fever, and vaccination can be delayed until the subject has recovered.)
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, might interfere with the primary study objectives or the subject's safety