Safety Trial of Monovalent Whole Virus Influenza (H1N1) Vaccine

This is a phase I, double-blind, individually-randomized (1:1, vaccine:placebo), controlled trial with two groups, IVACFLU (A/H1N1) and placebo. Healthy male and female adults 18 through 40 years of age will be invited to participate. In addition to sponsor monitoring of safety, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) will review safety data. Safety data through 7 days post-dose one for all subjects will be reviewed in a blinded fashion prior to administration of dose two of study vaccine or placebo. PATH will review all adverse events (AEs), including clinical laboratory evaluations (pre- and post-vaccination) and will advise if the volunteers may receive dose two of study vaccine or placebo. For all subjects, the procedures and timelines are summarized below.

On the day of first screening (S1), about 14 days (between 5 and 30 days) prior to administration of dose one of study vaccine or placebo, subjects will be screened for eligibility through medical history review, physical examination, testing for serologic evidence of chronic viral infection [human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV)], routine biochemical and hematological blood tests and urinalysis by dipstick. For screening for serologic evidence of chronic viral infections, appropriate pre- and post-test counseling must be provided.

Subject screening for eligibility will continue and be completed on the second screening day (S2). This second screening day will occur the same day as scheduled enrollment into the trial and administration of study vaccine or placebo (Day 0). Women will undergo pregnancy tests using urine samples on Day 0. Fully eligible subjects will be enrolled into the trial. At that time, blood specimens will be collected for immunological testing prior to administration of study vaccine or placebo. Subjects will be unaware of which allocation, IVACFLU or placebo, is received; study vaccine and placebo will be masked. Subjects will be carefully monitored for adverse reactions for 60 minutes after vaccination.

During the first week following vaccination, subjects will be asked to record local and general signs and symptoms using preprinted diary cards, thermometer, and small ruler. Concomitant medications will also be recorded. In addition to solicited signs, subjects will be asked to report any other adverse events, whether or not they believe that the event is related to the vaccination. Member of the investigator's clinical team will visit subjects one and five days after vaccination to check that subjects are correctly completing the diary card and to check on the subjects' well-being. Subjects will then return to the study clinic 7 days after dose one. At that time, the investigator will check the subjects' diary cards and transcribe all adverse events onto the case report forms using medical language. Blood and urine specimens will also be collected for routine biochemical and hematological blood tests and urinalysis by dipstick.

Two days before subjects are scheduled to receive dose two, subjects will be visited or called to remind them of the next visit to the study clinic and to check on the subjects' well-being. Subjects will return to the study clinic at 3 weeks after administration of dose one of study vaccine or placebo in order to receive dose two. At that time, interim histories and concomitant medications will be reviewed. Women will again undergo urine pregnancy tests. All subjects will undergo collection of blood and urine specimens for routine biochemical and hematological blood tests and urinalysis by dipstick and collection of blood serum specimens for immunologic analyses. Then subjects will receive dose two of study vaccine or placebo and be monitored for 60 minutes.

After receipt of dose two, subjects will again complete diary cards for 7 days after vaccination with visits by members of the investigator's clinical team again at days one and five after vaccination to check that the subjects are correctly completing diary cards and to check on the subjects' well-being. Subjects will then return to the study clinic 7 days after dose two (Day 28) for review of diary cards by the investigator and collection of blood and urine specimens for routine biochemical and hematological blood tests and urinalysis by dipstick.

Two days before the subjects' next scheduled visit at 3 weeks after administration of dose two, subjects will be visited or called to remind them of the next visit to the study clinic and to check on the subjects' well-being. Subjects will then return to the study clinic at 3 weeks after administration of dose two (Day 42) of study vaccine or placebo for another study visit. At that time, interim histories and concomitant medications will again be reviewed and final blood specimens will be collected for immunogenicity analyses. Women will also undergo a final pregnancy screen.

Subjects will then be asked to immediately report severe adverse events (SAEs) which occur from Day 42 to Day 201 (approximately 6 months after receipt of dose two). To facilitate this reporting, a member of the investigator's team will visit or call the subjects monthly to check on their well-being. At last study visit on Day 201, subjects will be interviewed and examined one last time before completing the study.

For the evaluation of serum antibodies (by hemagglutination inhibition and microneutralization), serum specimens will be collected on Day 0 (prior to administration of dose one of study vaccine or placebo), on Day 21 (prior to administration of dose two of study vaccine or placebo) and on Day 42.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female adult 18 (age of legal consent in Vietnam) through 40 years of age at the enrollment visit.
• Literate and willing to provide written informed consent.
• Free of obvious health problems, as established by the medical history and screening evaluations, including physical examination.
• Capable and willing to complete diary cards and willing to return for all follow-up visits
• For females, willing to utilize reliable birth control measures (intrauterine device, birth control pills, condoms) through the Day 42 visit.

Exclusion criteria

• Participation in another clinical trial involving any therapy within the previous three months or planned enrollment in such a trial during the period of this study.
• Receipt of any non-study vaccine within four weeks prior to enrollment or refusal to postpone receipt of such vaccines until after the Day 42 visit.
• Current or recent (within two weeks of enrollment) acute illness with or without fever.
• Receipt of immune globulin or other blood products within three months prior to study enrollment or planned receipt of such products prior to the Day 42 visit.
• Chronic administration (defined as more than 14 consecutively-prescribed days) of immunosuppressants or other immune-modulating therapy within six months prior to study enrollment. (For corticosteroids, this means prednisone or equivalent, >=0.5 mg per kg per day; topical steroids are allowed.)
• History of asthma.
• Hypersensitivity after previous administration of any vaccine.
• Other AE following immunization, at least possibly related to previous receipt of any vaccine.
• Suspected or known hypersensitivity to any of the study vaccine components, including chicken or egg protein.
• Known hypersensitivities (allergies) to food or the natural environment.
• Acute or chronic clinically significant pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, metabolic, neurologic, psychiatric or renal functional abnormality, as determined by medical history, physical examination or clinical laboratory screening tests, which in the opinion of the investigator, might interfere with the study objectives..
• History of leukemia or any other blood or solid organ cancer.
• History of thrombocytopenic purpura or known bleeding disorder.
• History of seizures.
• Known or suspected immunosuppressed or immunodeficient condition of any kind, including HIV infection.
• Known chronic HBV or HCV infection.
• Known active tuberculosis or symptoms of active tuberculosis, regardless of cause.
• History of chronic alcohol abuse and/or illegal drug use.
• Pregnancy or lactation. (A negative pregnancy test will be required before administration of study vaccine or placebo for all women of childbearing potential.)
• History of Guillain-Barre' Syndrome
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would increase the health risk to the subject if he/she participates in the study or would interfere with the evaluation of the study objectives.