Clinical Study to Assess the Efficacy of IMM-124E (Travelan®) in a Controlled Human Infection Model

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate if Travelan® protects healthy adult volunteers from moderate-to-severe diarrhea upon challenge with Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strain H10407.

Up to 60 subjects will be randomized to receive either the Travelan® product or a placebo followed by challenge with ETEC strain H10407. Subjects will receive Travelan® or placebo caplets beginning 2 days prior to experimental challenge with ETEC strain H10407. Travelan®/placebo will be administered for a total of 7 days, or until antibiotic treatment has been initiated. Antibiotic treatment will be initiated after early antibiotic treatment criteria are met or 5 days after challenge.

Early antibiotic treatment will commence when any of the following criteria are met and a physician determines it to be warranted:

1. Severe diarrhea based on volume (800 g in 24 hours)
2. Diarrhea of any severity AND 2 or more of the following symptoms: severe abdominal pain, severe abdominal cramps, severe nausea, severe headache, severe myalgias, severe arthralgia), any fever (≥ 38.0°C), or any vomiting
3. Any fever ≥ 39.0°C
4. Subjects who experience unexpectedly severe events such as symptomatic hypotension (disproportionate to volume loss), renal dysfunction, or altered mental state at the discretion of the investigators.
5. A study physician determines that early treatment is warranted for other reasons.

The placebo is a commercially-sourced high-protein milk product repackaged and masked to mirror the Travelan® product.

Upon admission to the inpatient unit, clinical monitoring will consist of daily medical assessments with adverse event (AE) determination, vital signs at least three times daily, examination and weighing of all stools, stool culture work-up for the challenge strain up to three times daily, and safety laboratory tests. Any subject passing a grade 3-5 stool will be encouraged to start drinking oral fluids at a rate equal to 1.5 times their stool output (or at the same rate as their emesis output as applicable). Intravenous (IV) rehydration will be provided if pre-specified criteria are met.

All subjects will be treated with ciprofloxacin (500 mg by mouth twice daily for three days) or other antibiotic where applicable starting five days after ingesting the H10407 challenge inoculum unless early treatment criteria are met. Subjects will be discharged from the inpatient facility when clinical symptoms are resolved or resolving and two consecutive stool cultures (taken at least 12 hours apart) are negative for the ETEC challenge strain. Subjects may be discharged earlier than Day 8 if they meet criteria.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female between 18 and 50 years of age, inclusive at time of screening visit.
2. General good health, without significant medical illness, abnormal vital signs or physical examination findings, or clinical laboratory abnormalities, as determined by the principal investigator (PI) in consultation with the Medical Monitor and Sponsor.
3. Demonstrate comprehension of the protocol procedures, requirements, and CHIM this will be evaluated by completing a multiple choice comprehension assessment (passing grade \> 70%) during screening and in the consenting process.
4. Willing to participate, as evidenced by signing the informed consent document.
5. Available for all planned follow-up visits.
6. Negative serum pregnancy test at screening and negative serum and/or urine pregnancy test on the day of admittance to the inpatient unit for all female participants. All females must agree to use an efficacious hormonal or barrier method of birth control during the study. Efficacious methods of birth control include hormonal birth control methods (oral contraceptive pills, patches, vaginal rings, long-acting reversible contraception, surgical sterilization, condoms with spermicide, or abstinence from intercourse with a male partner. Female participants unable to bear children must have this documented (e.g., tubal ligation or hysterectomy).
7. A negative Covid-19 PCR test is required on the day of admission to the unit to comply with Pharmaron's Covid-19 policy (subjects reporting to admission for Cohort 1 who test positive for COVID-19 may rescreen for Cohort 2)
8. Acceptable hematology and blood chemistry levels as assessed by the PI. i.e., Serum creatinine \<1.3 mg/dL. AST, GGT, amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase not to exceed 1.5x upper limit of normal (ULN)
9. Vital signs will be assessed in the supine position and must be within the following ranges:

   * Oral body temperature between 35-37oC inclusive
   * Systolic blood pressure between 90-140 mmHg inclusive
   * Diastolic blood pressure between 55-90 mmHg inclusive
   * Pulse rate between 45-90 bpm inclusive

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of a significant medical condition (e.g., psychiatric conditions such as significant anxiety, depression, or somatization disorder; gastrointestinal disease, such as peptic ulcer, symptoms or evidence of active gastritis/dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or irritable bowel syndrome (as suggested by medical history or medical diagnosis); history of major gastrointestinal surgery; or laboratory abnormalities that in the opinion of the investigator preclude participation in the study. Significant medical conditions include HIV, active Hepatitis B or C infection, ongoing immunosuppression for any reason, autoimmune disease, any underlying cardiac, pulmonary, endocrine, or renal conditions, any gastrointestinal illness (chronic reflux, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcer), any diabetes mellitus, and other such illnesses that can put a volunteer at increased risk. Exclusionary laboratory abnormalities include any abnormality that is grade 2 or above, or any two grade 1 laboratory abnormalities.
2. Immunosuppressive illness or evidence of IgA deficiency (serum IgA levels outside the normal range). This includes any disease that requires immunosuppressive medication such corticosteroids, monoclonal antibodies that target key aspects of the immune system (e.g. rituximab or TNF-blockers, or any autoimmune disease).
3. Positive serology results for HIV, HBsAg, or HCV antibodies, and confirmatory tests if appropriate.
4. Positive urine drug screen (positive for the presence of amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates, phencyclidine, cocaine, benzodiazepines, methadone, and propoxyphene at screening and at the discretion of the study physician, with the exception of stable persons with a diagnosis of ADHD that is well-controlled with a prescribed amphetamine.
5. History of alcohol abuse in the past 3 months or drug abuse in the past year
6. Significant abnormalities in screening laboratory hematology, serum chemistry or electrocardiogram, as determined by the PI or PI in consultation with the Medical Monitor and Sponsor. Significant ECG abnormalities include the following:

   1. PR \> 220 msec
   2. QRS complex \> 120 msec
   3. QTcF \> 450 msec (male) or \>460 msec (female)
7. Serum bilirubin exceeds upper limit of normal
8. Use of any medication known to affect immune function (e.g., corticosteroids and others) within 30 days preceding receipt of the investigational products or planned to be used during the active study period. Any regular systemic corticosteroid will be exclusionary, while topical, intranasal, and inhaled steroids will be permitted.
9. Nursing or lactating on the day of admittance to the inpatient unit.
10. Inability to tolerate 150 ml of sodium bicarbonate buffer.
11. Recent vaccination (including licensed vaccines) or receipt of an investigational product (within 30 days before challenge through 30 days following the challenge dose).
12. History of diarrhea (\> 3 unformed or liquid stools over a 24-hour period) in the 2 weeks prior to the planned inpatient phase.
13. Fewer than 3 stools per week or more than 3 stools per day as the usual frequency, or loose or liquid stools other than on an occasional basis.
14. Regular use of laxatives or any agent that increases gastric pH (regular defined as at least weekly).
15. Use of proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, or antacids within 48 hours of dosing.
16. A fever (≥38.0°C) in the 2 weeks prior to time of challenge.
17. Use of antibiotics during the 30 days before bacterial dosing or receipt of more than 3 courses of antibiotics over the two months prior to dosing.
18. Blood or plasma donation of one pint or more within 30 days preceding the receipt of the investigational products.
19. Lactose intolerance or allergy to milk or milk products.
20. Employment as a health care worker, food handler, childcare worker, or caregivers for elderly or immunocompromised individuals.
21. Allergy to fluoroquinolones, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline, or ampicillin/penicillin (excluded if allergic to two of four).
22. History of microbiologically confirmed ETEC infection in the last 3 years.
23. Occupation involving handling of ETEC currently, or in the past 3 years.
24. Symptoms consistent with travelers' diarrhea defined as \>3 unformed or liquid stools over a 24 hour period concurrent with travel to countries where ETEC infection is endemic (most of the developing world) within 3 years prior to dosing, OR planned travel to endemic countries during the length of the study. ETEC endemic countries include all countries in Asia (except for Japan and South Korea) the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Central and South America.
25. Vaccination for or ingestion of ETEC, cholera, Shigella, or E. coli heat-labile toxin within 5 years prior to dosing.
26. Any prior experimental infection with ETEC strain H10407, or prior experimental infection with other ETEC strains or other bacterial enteric pathogens (Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter) within the past 5 years.