immunization with imm-101 vs observation for prevention of respiratory and severe covid-19 related infections in cancer patients at increased risk of exposure

Conditions: Cancer; Covid-19

Summary: the purpose of this study is to find out if immunization with imm-101 will reduce the incidence of severe respiratory and covid-19 infections in cancer patients.

imm-101 is a new type of immune stimulating therapy being developed for the treatment of cancer that may also help in preventing severe respiratory and covid-19 infections. laboratory tests show that imm-101 works by activating parts of the immune system that are also involved with protecting against viral and bacterial infections, so that if you are exposed to these types of infections your body may be able fight off the infection better. that could help prevent severe symptoms from respiratory and covid-19 related infections. it has been studied in over 300 cancer patients who have also been receiving other cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation, and seems promising, but it is not clear if it can offer better results than not having the immunization at all.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * patient must be undergoing (or be planned to undergo) active treatment for one or more solid malignancy, lymphoma or myeloma. active treatment includes adjuvant, neoadjuvant and palliative intent treatment with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy. * patients must have one or more of the following risk factors \[cdc 2019\] for a severe covid-19 infection: * age \> 65 years old * hypertension (on medications); * type 1 or 2 diabetes (on medication) * a relevant chronic condition as per the investigator based on the medical record, including: * heart (e.g. heart failure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and pulmonary hypertension) * lung (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), moderate to severe asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and cystic fibrosis) * liver cirrhosis * serious kidney disease requiring dialysis * receiving systemic therapy (such as cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted agents excluding single-agent hormonal therapy) * body mass index \> 40 * living in a nursing home or long term care facility * patient must have a life expectancy of \>6 months as assessed by the investigator * patient must have an ecog performance status ≤ 2 * patient has adequate organ function appropriate for the therapy the patient is planned to receive in the opinion of the investigator and based on local assessment and practices. * patient is aged ≥ 18 years * patient has agreed to receive pneumococcal vaccination and a seasonal influenza vaccination in accordance with canadian guidelines. * patient is able (i.e. sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete the health utility questionnaires in either english or french. * patient consent must be appropriately obtained in accordance with applicable local and regulatory requirements. each patient must sign a consent form prior to enrollment in the trial to document their willingness to participate. * patient must be willing to provide identifying information including provincial health insurance number to facilitate data linkage and follow up. * patients must be accessible for treatment and follow-up. investigators must assure themselves the patients enrolled on this trial will be available for complete documentation of the treatment, adverse events, and follow-up. * women/men of childbearing potential must have agreed to use a highly effective contraceptive method throughout the treatment period and for at least 3 months after discontinuation of treatment. exclusion criteria: * patient previously received treatment with imm-101. * patient cannot have either at present or in the past, a positive test for covid-19 infection. if a patient has been tested for covid-19, result must be confirmed as negative prior to enrollment. * patient cannot have experienced "flu-like symptoms" within 14 days prior to enrollment, including fever, extreme fatigue, new or worsening cough, myalgias, new or worsening dyspnea, and/or sputum production. * patient is receiving concomitant treatment with another investigational product or has received such treatment within the 3 weeks prior to enrollment. * patient has any co-existing active infection that, in the opinion of the investigator, may increase the risk associated with study participation or study drug administration, impair the ability of the subject to receive protocol therapy, interfere with the patient's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the patient to participate. * patient has previously experienced an allergic reaction to any mycobacterial product, including the bcg vaccine. * patients with superficial bladder cancer or any other condition currently receiving or planned to be treated with bcg. * patient has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) (hiv 1/2 antibodies) or a known history of or is known to have a positive test for hepatitis b (hbsag reactive) or hepatitis c (hcv rna \[qualitative\]). * patients with prior or concurrent leukemia. * patient has had a prior bone marrow transplant. * patient is pregnant or breast-feeding * patient has documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. this includes patient requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, or depot corticosteroids in the 6 weeks before enrollment) or immunosuppressant drugs (such as azathioprine, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, etc.) within the 14 days prior to enrollment. inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid doses ≤ 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease. steroids used for premedication prior to chemotherapy or as part of a chemotherapy regimen are allowed.