Safety and Immunogenicity of GSK Biological's Candidate Tuberculosis Vaccine Mtb72F/AS02A in Healthy PPD-positive Adults

The BCG vaccine has been widely available for several decades. It is easy and cheap to produce, and when given to neonates or young children it is effective in preventing severe manifestations of disease such as meningeal tuberculosis and miliary tuberculosis. However, in terms of the capacity of the vaccine to protect adult humans it shows a wide range of efficacy, including zero levels of protection. Due to the general realization that BCG is losing its protective effect, particularly in terms of preventing adult-onset tuberculosis, a major effort has been made to try to develop new alternative vaccines. One such candidate, Mtb72F/AS02A, is a polyprotein derived from two known M. tuberculosis antigens adjuvanted with AS02A. Mtb72F/AS02A is a candidate TB vaccine under development for two indications: prevention of primary TB infection in young children in highly endemic areas and as an adjunct to treatment for TB in adolescents and adults.

Inclusion criteria

• Written informed consent
• Healthy PPD-positive volunteers aged 18 to 50 years
• No active pulmonary disease as confirmed by chest X-ray
• No history of extrapulmonary TB
• Seronegative for HIV 1 and 2, HBsAg, and HCV
• Clinically normal laboratory values for creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, complete blood count (CBC) and differential, haemoglobin, platelet count and urinalysis.
• Females : Non pregnant, must use adequate contraceptive precautions for 30 days prior to vaccination, have a negative pregnancy test and must agree to continue such precautions for two months after completion of the vaccination series.

Exclusion criteria

• Chronic administration (defined as more than 14 days) of immunosuppressants or other immune-modifying drugs within 6 months prior to the first vaccine dose.
• History of prior vaccination with experimental Mycobacterium Tuberculosis vaccines or experimental products containing MPL or QS21.
• Any confirmed or suspected immunosuppressive or immunodeficient condition; or family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency.
• History of hypersensitivity to vaccines or vaccine components
• History of any acute or chronic illness or medication that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the evaluation of the safety or immunogenicity of the vaccine.