Safety of and Immune Response to a Malaria Vaccine (MSP1 42-C1) With or Without CPG 7909 Adjuvant

In 2002, the World Health Organization reported a worldwide malaria incidence of approximately 300 million clinical cases annually, with approximately 1 million deaths attributed to malaria alone or in combination with other diseases. The parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of these infections and deaths. During P. falciparum infection, liver cells are invaded by the parasite and asexual multiplication occurs. The liver cells burst, and tens of thousands of infectious particles called merozoites are released. A multiprotein complex on the surface of a merozoite is necessary for the merozoite to infect a blood cell. MSP1 42-C1 is a malaria vaccine that mimics MSP1 42, a protein in the multiprotein complex. By introducing this "decoy" form of MSP1 42, infection of additional blood cells may be blocked. The adjuvant CPG 7909 is known to elicit cell-mediated immunity, the arm of the immune system that defends the body against intracellular pathogens such as P. falciparum. This study will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of MSP1 42-C1/Alhydrogel at two different doses in healthy adults. The vaccine will be given either alone or with CPG 7909.

This study will last at least 34 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups:

• Group A participants will receive three injections of the lower dose of MSP1 42-C1/Alhydrogel.
• Group B participants will receive three injections of the lower dose of MSP1 42-C1/Alhydrogel and CPG 7909.
• Group C participants will receive three injections of the higher dose of MSP1 42-C1/Alhydrogel.
• Group D participants will receive three injections of the higher dose of MSP1 42-C1/Alhydrogel and CPG 7909.

Enrollment into Groups C and D will begin only after safety review of all participants in Groups A and B. All participants will receive their assigned injections at study entry, Week 4, and Week 8, and will be asked to return to the clinic the day after each vaccination for clinical evaluation. Participants will be asked to keep a diary for 6 days after each vaccination, taking note of their body temperatures and any side effects they experience. There will be a total of 18 study visits over 34 weeks. A clinical evaluation will occur at each visit. Blood collection, vital signs measurement, and urine collection will occur at selected visits.

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

• 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
• Liver disease (ALT greater than upper limit of normal [ULN])
• Kidney disease (serum creatinine greater than ULN)
• Hematologic disease (absolute neutrophil count of less than 1,500 cells/mm3; hemoglobin less than lower limit of normal, by sex; OR platelet count less than 140,000 mm3)
• Clinically significant neurologic, heart, lung, liver, rheumatologic, autoimmune, or kidney disease
• Participation in another investigational vaccine or drug trial within 30 days of study entry or while this study is ongoing
• Active drug or alcohol abuse causing medical, occupational, or family problems during the 12 months prior to study entry
• History of severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis
• 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
• Absence of spleen
• Previously received an investigational malaria vaccine
• Received antimalarial prophylaxis during the 12 months prior to study entry
• Received chloroquine or other aminoquinolines within 12 weeks of study entry
• Prior malaria infection
• Known allergy to nickel
• Pre-existing autoimmune or antibody-mediated disease. More information about this criterion can be found in the protocol.
• Any medical, psychiatric, social, or occupational condition or other responsibility that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the study
• Other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would affect the volunteer's participation in the study
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding