ShigETEC Vaccine Study in Bangladesh

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, age-descending and dose-escalating phase 1b clinical trial will be carried out in Bangladeshi adults and three paediatric age groups to evaluate the safety, clinical tolerance, and immunogenicity of ShigETEC, a live, attenuated Shigella/ETEC combination vaccine.

Objectives of the study

Primary Objectives:

To evaluate the safety and clinical tolerability of oral ShigETEC vaccine in Bangladeshi adults and different age groups of paediatric participants by monitoring the occurrence and severity of clinical signs and symptoms after administration of each of the three vaccinations.

Secondary Objectives:

• To evaluate the immune response to Shigella and ETEC (Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli) antigens in blood and stool following administration of ShigETEC vaccine.
• To assess the fecal shedding of ShigETEC following ingestion.

The age-descending study will start testing the vaccine in healthy adults (aged 18-45 years) and move subsequently into three different paediatric age groups (aged 2-5 years, 12-23 months and 6-11 months). In the adult participants (group A), fifty-four participants will be enrolled and divided into 3 escalating dose cohorts. Each cohort of 18 healthy adults (12 vaccinees and 6 placebo recipients) will be randomized to receive three times vaccine/placebo two weeks apart. The first adult cohort (cohort A1) will receive the optimal vaccine dose (OVD) found in Phase I Europe trial (5x10^10 CFU). Cohort A2 will be given 4-fold higher dose than cohort A1 (2x10^11 CFU). Cohort A3 will receive a lower dose according to DSMB decision (2x10^9 CFU).

In each of the 2-5 years (group B), 12-23 months (group C), and 6-11 months age group (group D), 48 participants will be enrolled and divided into 3 escalating dose cohorts with 16 participants in each cohort (12 vaccinees and 4 placebo recipients). B1 cohort will be immunized with 25-fold lower than the OVD in EU (Europe) Phase 1 trial (2x10^9CFU). Cohorts B2 and B3 will be given higher doses in 5-fold increments, and thus cohort B2 will receive 1x10^10 CFU and cohort B3 will receive the OVD in EU Phase 1 trial (5x10^10 CFU). Cohort C1 will be vaccinated with 25-fold lower than the OVD in group B. Cohorts C2 and C3 will receive higher doses in 5-fold increments. Cohort D1 will be given 25- fold lower than the OVD in group C. Cohorts D2 and D3 will receive higher doses in 5-fold increments.

Recruitment, screening, and consenting of the participants will take place at the urban field site of icddr,b in Mirpur. In each cohort, the first dose and immediate safety evaluation will be conducted at the Clinical Trial Unit (CTU), an inpatient facility, where the participants will be closely monitored for 24 hours post-vaccination. If the initial dose is deemed safe, all participants will return to the CTU to receive the second and third time vaccine or placebo on an outpatient basis. Follow-up visits will take place 7 days after each dosing and 28 days after last dosing at the Mirpur field office.

Primary safety endpoint:

• Solicited reactogenicity
• Unsolicited adverse event (AE)
• Serious adverse event (SAE)

Secondary immunogenicity endpoints:

• Changes of antibody responses to antigens from baseline to each visit after vaccination:

• Antibody responses IgG (Immunglobulin G) and IgA (Immunglobulin A) in all age groups in serum
• IgA in lymphocyte supernatant (ALS) and fecal extract
• Functional antibodies:

• ETEC toxins neutralization titers
• Serum bactericidal activity
• Inhibition of bacterial adherence and entry to human colon epithelial cells
• Antibody responses to Shigella and ETEC proteins and peptides
• Antibody avidity against LT, ST and selected Shigella antigens

Secondary shedding endpoint:

Intestinal replication of the ShigETEC vaccine

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female adults, children, toddlers, and infants aged between 18-45 years, 2-5 years, 12-23 months, and 6-11 months, respectively at the time of vaccination.
• Free of obvious health problems as determined by medical history and clinical examination before entering into the study.
• Normal bowel habits.
• Informed consent form signed.
• Negative pregnancy tests before each vaccination for females of childbearing potential. Adult participants agree to use birth control steps or abstinence.

Exclusion criteria

• Nursing and breast-feeding women.
• Presence of any known significant medical or psychiatric condition / systemic disorder.
• History of congenital abdominal disorders, intussusception, abdominal surgery, any other congenital disorder, any neurologic disorders or seizures.
• Clinically significant abnormalities in screening hematology, serum chemistry.
• Known or suspected HIV, hepatitis infection.
• Clinical evidence of active gastrointestinal illness or acute disease at the time of enrolment.
• Prior receipt of any Shigella or ETEC vaccine, blood transfusion or blood products.
• History of febrile illness within 48 hours prior to vaccination or fever at the time of immunization.
• History of diarrhoea within 7 days and / or acute diarrhoea due to culture confirmed Shigella or ETEC infections within one month prior to vaccination.
• Screening stool positive for any Shigella or ETEC strain by culture.
• Participation in research involving another investigational product within 30 days before before planned date of first vaccination concurrent participation in another clinical trial.
• Receipt of antimicrobial drugs for any reason within 7 days before vaccination.
• Allergy to quinolone, sulfa, and penicillin classes of antibiotics
• Any conditions which, in the opinion of the investigator, might jeopardize the safety of study participants or interfere with the evaluation of the study objectives.