Safety of and Immune Response to DEN4 Vaccine Component Candidate for Dengue Virus

Infection with dengue viruses is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in children in several tropical Asian counties. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that these viruses are responsible for more than 50 million cases of dengue fever (DF) and approximately 0.5 million cases of the more severe disease, dengue hemorrhagic fever/ shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) annually. Because dengue viruses are endemic in most tropical and subtropical regions, keeping more than 2 billion persons at risk for acquiring dengue, the WHO has made development of a dengue vaccine a top priority.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a candidate DEN4 vaccine aimed at preventing infection with dengue virus serotype 4.

Dengue viruses are endemic in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world with more than 2 billion persons at risk for acquiring dengue. There are four serotypes of dengue virus (DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3, and DEN 4) each capable of causing dengue illness ranging from mild, self-limited febrile illness to life-threatening disease. Because previous infection with one dengue serotype can increase the risk for DHF/DSS following infection with a different serotype, immunization would ideally provide immunity against all four dengue viral serotypes.

Several live, attenuated dengue vaccines have been tested in Phase I and/or Phase II clinical trials. Although some have appeared promising in early trials, none have been able to meet the requirements for a safe and effective vaccine. Meeting these requirements has been particularly difficult when testing vaccines containing all four serotypes. The vaccine candidate in this study is live-attenuated rDEN4delta30, which will target the DEN4 serotype, it is a potential component for a future tetravalent dengue vaccine.

This is a double-blind, random assignment, placebo-controlled study in healthy, adult volunteers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a single dose of DEN4 vaccine. Some participants will be receiving placebo as a comparative measure, to better assess vaccine-associated versus non vaccine-associated adverse events.

To qualify for participation in the study, volunteers will undergo an eligibility screening which will include medical history, physical exam, hematology testing, liver and renal function testing, coagulation studies, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C screening, urinalysis, and screening for pervious flavivirus infection. Urine pregnancy testing will also be required for female volunteers.

Duration of individual participation in the study is approximately 26 weeks following vaccination on Study Day 0. Volunteers will be randomly assigned to receive either rDEN4delta30 or placebo; 50 participants will receive the vaccine, 20 will receive placebo. On the day of vaccination, all volunteers will be reassessed by study personnel to ensure continued eligibility, vital signs will be taken, and a physical exam will be performed. Female participants will also have a pregnancy test and review of acceptable pregnancy prevention methods. Eligible participants will receive a vaccination of Study Day 0, followed by a 30 minute post vaccination assessment for adverse events. After vaccination, volunteers will be evaluated in the clinic approximately every other day for the first 16 days if study.

During the course of study, volunteers will have blood drawn and clinical evaluations performed on Study Days 21, 28, 42, and 180 post-vaccination. All participants will be asked to record oral temperatures 3 times a day for the first 16 days post-vaccination.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Willing and able to provide informed consent
* Good general health as determined by physical examination, laboratory screening, and review of medical history
* Available for the duration of the study, approximately 26 weeks postvaccination
* Willing to use acceptable forms of birth control. More information on this criterion can be found in the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Currently breast-feeding, or pregnant
* Evidence of clinically significant neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, rheumatologic, autoimmune, or renal disease by history, physical examination, and/or laboratory studies
* Behavioral, cognitive, or psychiatric disease that in the opinion of the Investigator affects the ability of the volunteer to understand and cooperate with the requirements of the study protocol
* Screening laboratory values of Grade 1 or above for absolute neutrophil count(ANC), ALT, and serum creatinine, as defined in this protocol
* Any other condition that in the opinion of the Investigator would jeopardize the safety or rights of a volunteer participating in the trial or would render the volunteer unable to comply with the protocol
* Any significant alcohol or drug abuse in the past 12 months which has caused medical, occupational, or family problems, as indicated by volunteer history
* History of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis
* Severe asthma (emergency room visit or hospitalization within the last 6 months)
* Positive HIV-1 serology by screening and confirmatory assays
* Positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) by screening and confirmatory assays
* Positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) by hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening
* Any known immunodeficiency syndrome
* Use of anticoagulant medications
* Use of corticosteroids (excluding topical or nasal) or immunosuppressive drugs within 42 days prior to or following vaccination. Immunosuppressive dose of corticosteroids is defined as 10 mg or more prednisone equivalent per day for 14 or more days.
* Receipt of a live vaccine within 28 days or a killed vaccine within the 14 days prior to vaccination or anticipated receipt of any vaccine during the 42 days following vaccination
* History of a surgical splenectomy
* Receipt of blood products within the past 6 months, including transfusions or immunoglobulin or anticipated receipt of any blood products or immunoglobulin during the 42 days following vaccination
* History or serologic evidence of previous dengue virus infection or other flavivirus infection (e.g., yellow fever virus, St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus)
* Previous receipt of a flavivirus vaccine (licensed or experimental)
* Receipt of any investigational agent in the 42 days before or after vaccination
* Volunteer has definite plans to travel to a dengue endemic area during the study