Safety and Efficacy of BARS13 in the Elderly

Advaccine Clinical Research are developing a vaccine called BARS13 for the active immunisation of infants (aged 6 months to 5 years old) and the elderly (aged 60-80 years old) for the seasonal prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection. A total of 125 volunteers aged 60 - 80 years (inclusive) will be enrolled in this study, and will be divided into 3 groups (or 'cohorts') of 40 people (cohort 1 and 2) and 45 people (cohort 3). The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of BARS13 in this age group.

Advaccine Clinical Research is developing a recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Virus (rRSV) vaccine - BARS13 for the protection of the elderly from RSV infection.

This is a two centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy adults aged 60-80 years old to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the rRSV investigational vaccine, BARS13.

This study will be conducted in two centres in Australia with CMAX as the coordinating site.

A total of up to 125 eligible participants will be enrolled administered by IM injection to the deltoid region of the arm. Cohort 1 (low repeat dose) includes one dose of 10micrograms of the vaccine on one arm and one dose of placebo on the other arm given sequentially on Day 1 and 29. Cohort 2 (high repeat dose) includes one dose of 10micrograms of the vaccine on each arm given sequentially on Day 1 and 29. Cohort 3 (high repeat multiple dose) includes one dose of 10microgarms of vaccine to each arm sequentially on Day 1, 29 and 57.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion:

Participants who meet all of the following criteria at screening are eligible to participate in the study:

1. Healthy male or female adults, or adults with stable chronic disease aged 60 to 80 years old, inclusive. Stable disease includes adults with no new diagnosis, hospitalization or changes in medication in the preceding 3 months. Adults with stable, Stage 1 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are eligible for this study provided they are not using inhaled or systemic corticosteroids.
2. Body mass index (BMI) ≤40 kg/m2.
3. Screening 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) must be within normal range (QT interval corrected using Fridericia's formula \[QTcF\] males ≤ 450 msec; females ≤ 470 msec) or with abnormalities, which are not hazardous to the patient according to the opinion of the Investigator at the screening visit.
4. Hematology, serum chemistry, coagulation and urinalysis test results not deviating from the normal reference range by age and gender to a clinically relevant extent at screening.
5. Systolic blood pressure in the range of 90 to 160 mmHg (inclusive) and diastolic blood pressure in the range of 50 to 95 mmHg (inclusive) after 5 minutes in supine position at the screening visit. (May be repeated twice, if abnormal values were recorded in the first instance, at the discretion of the PI).
6. Willing and able (on both a physical and cognitive basis) to give informed consent prior to study enrolment.
7. Able to comply with study requirements, including access to transportation for study visits.
8. Access to inbound and outbound telephone communication with caregivers and study staff.
9. Males must be surgically sterile (\>30 days since vasectomy with no viable sperm), abstinent or, if engaged in sexual relations with a person of child-bearing potential, the participant and his partner must use an acceptable, highly effective, contraceptive method from screening and for a period of at least 3 months after the last dose of study drug. Acceptable methods of contraception are the use of condoms and an effective contraceptive for the female partner that could include surgical sterilization (e.g., bilateral tubal ligation), hormonal contraception, or intrauterine contraception/device. The PI or appropriate designee is to assess the adequacy of methods of contraception on a case-by-case basis.
10. Females must be of nonchildbearing potential i.e., surgically sterilized (hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, bilateral oophorectomy at least 6 weeks before screening) or postmenopausal (where postmenopausal is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause and a follicle-stimulating hormone level ≥40 IU/L at the screening visit).

Exclusion:

Participants who meet any of the following criteria are not eligible to participate in the study:

1. Participation in research involving investigational product (IP) (drug / biologic / device) within 45 days before the planned date of the Day 1 vaccination.
2. History of a serious reaction to any prior vaccination.
3. Received any vaccine other than an inactivated or live attenuated influenza vaccine or coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine (not in a clinical trial setting) in the 4 weeks preceding the first study vaccination; or any RSV vaccine at any time or who plan to receive any non-study vaccines within 28 days of the last dose of study vaccine. Influenza vaccine and coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine should not be given within 14 days of each dose of study vaccine.
4. Any known or suspected immunosuppressive condition, acquired or congenital, as determined by history and/or physical examination.
5. Chronic administration (defined as more than 14 continuous days) of immunosuppressants or other immune-modifying drugs within 6 months prior to the administration of the study vaccine. An immunosuppressant dose of glucocorticoid will be defined as a systemic dose ≥10 mg of prednisone per day or equivalent. The use of topical and nasal glucocorticoids will be permitted.
6. Positive testing for active HIV, HBsAg, HCV, Quantiferon (TB infection).
7. Positive urine drug screen at screening, or pre-vaccination for any drug of abuse unless there is an explanation acceptable to the PI (e.g., the participant stated in advance that they consumed a prescription or over the counter product which contained the detected drug) and/or the participant had a negative urine drug screen on retest by the pathology laboratory.
8. A positive alcohol breathalyzer test at screening or pre-vaccination.
9. Administration of immunoglobulins and/or any blood products within the 3 months preceding the administration of the study vaccine or during the study.
10. Acute disease at the time of enrolment (defined as the presence of a moderate or severe illness with or without fever, or an oral temperature ≥38.0°C on the planned day of vaccine administration).
11. Suspicion or recent history (within one year of planned vaccination) of alcohol or other substance abuse (regular consumption of \> 10 units of alcohol/week \[men and women\]; 1 unit = 237 mL of beer, 25 mL shot of 40% spirit or a 125 mL glass of wine. A standard drink contains 10 g of alcohol).
12. Birthmarks, tattoos, wound or other skin conditions over the deltoid region of either arm that, in the PI's opinion, could reasonably obscure and interfere with evaluation of local injection site reactions.
13. Subject with a history of autoimmune disease or an active autoimmune disease requiring therapeutic intervention including but not limited to: systemic or cutaneous lupus erythematosus, autoimmune arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Sjögren syndrome, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune glomerulonephritis, autoimmune thyroiditis, giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis), psoriasis, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 1), Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
14. Any condition that in the opinion of the investigator would pose a health risk to the subject if enrolled or could interfere with evaluation of the vaccine or interpretation of study results (including neurologic, cognitive, or psychiatric conditions deemed likely to impair the quality of study compliance or safety reporting).
15. History of any chronic respiratory illness, including current diagnosis of asthma within 2 years, COPD ≥ Stage 2, exercise induced wheezing, reactive airway disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or cystic fibrosis. Asthma diagnosed \> 2 years ago is allowed at PI discretion if the asthma is considered well controlled as per the Asthma Australia Control Tool (score of ≥20 out of 25). Inhaled corticosteroids are allowed provided dose is considered \<10 mg prednisolone equivalent.
16. Any respiratory illness (e.g., cough, sore throat, dyspnea, wheezing or nocturnal awakenings to respiratory symptoms) within 14 days prior to receiving the first dose of study vaccination.
17. Any active pulmonary infection or other inflammatory conditions, even in the absence of febrile episodes, within 14 days prior to the first study vaccination.
18. Any other condition or prior therapy that in the opinion of the PI would make the volunteer unsuitable for this study, including inability to cooperate fully with the requirements of the study protocol or likelihood of noncompliance with any study requirements.