Safety of and Immune Response to a Dengue Virus Vaccine (rDEN4delta30-200,201) in Healthy Adults

Dengue viruses cause dengue fever and the more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever/shock syndrome. More than 2 billion people living in tropical and subtropical regions of the world are at risk of dengue virus infection, which is the leading cause of hospitalization and death in children in several tropical Asian countries. This study will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a live attenuated dengue virus vaccine called rDEN4delta30-200,201. This vaccine is derived from rDEN4delta30, another dengue virus vaccine candidate that has been shown to be safe and immunogenic in Phase I and II trials in healthy adults.

This study will last 180 days. There will be three cohorts in this dose de-escalation study. Participants in Cohort 1 will be randomly assigned to receive the highest dose of rDEN4delta30-200,201 or placebo at study entry. Cohort 2 will begin only after safety review of all participants in Cohort 1. Participants in Cohort 2 will receive a lower dose of rDEN4delta30-200,201 or placebo. Cohort 3 will begin only after safety review of all participants in Cohort 2. Participants in Cohort 3 will receive the lowest dose of rDEN4delta30-200,201 or placebo.

After vaccination, participants will be asked to monitor their temperatures every day for 16 days. Study visits will occur every other day after vaccination until Day 16, followed by four additional visits at selected days through Day 180. Blood collection, vital signs measurement, and a targeted physical exam will occur at each study visit. Some participants will be asked to undergo a skin biopsy or additional blood collection at selected visits.

Inclusion criteria

• Willing to be followed for the duration of the study
• Willing to use acceptable methods of contraception
• Good general health

Exclusion criteria

• Clinically significant neurologic, heart, lung, liver, rheumatologic, autoimmune, or kidney disease
• Behavioral, cognitive, or psychiatric disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, may affect the ability of the volunteer to understand and cooperate with the study
• Laboratory abnormalities at study screening
• Alcohol or drug abuse within 12 months prior to study entry
• History of severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis
• Emergency room visit or hospitalization for severe asthma within 6 months prior to study entry
• HIV-1 infected
• Hepatitis C virus infected
• Hepatitis B surface antigen positive
• Known immunodeficiency syndrome
• Use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs within 30 days prior to study entry. Participants who have used topical or nasal corticosteroids are not excluded.
• Live vaccine within 4 weeks prior to study entry
• Killed vaccine within 2 weeks prior to study entry
• Blood products within 6 months prior to study entry
• Previously received a licensed or experimental yellow fever or dengue vaccine
• Surgical removal of spleen
• History of dengue virus infection or other flavivirus infection (e.g., yellow fever virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus)
• Other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would affect the participant's participation in the study
• Plan to travel to an area where dengue infection is common
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding