Efficacy of FLU-v in an H1N1 Influenza Human Challenge Model

FLU-v is a broad spectrum influenza vaccine that targets regions conserved among multiple influenza strains. FLU-v adjuvanted with Montanide ISA-51 was shown to be safe in previous trials. This study aims to assess efficacy of adjuvanted FLU-v vaccine in protecting healthy volunteers against an influenza challenge delivered intranasally under quarantine.

Efficacy of FLU-v will be assessed by measuring the incidence and severity of the disease in the treatment groups compared to the placebo group. In addition, the immune responses of the volunteers to FLU-v will also be explored.

Influenza is a highly variable virus. Most of the variability comes from the proteins on the viral capsid surface; NA and HA. Current vaccines use these highly variable, immunogenic proteins to induce production of neutralising antibodies, however because these proteins are different for each strain, and can also change over time within strains due to antigenic drift, a new vaccine is required each year designed specifically to the strain predicted to circulate that year. In the event of a mismatch between predicted and actual circulating strains, or the emergence of a new strain due to antigenic shift, the effectiveness of the annual vaccine is drastically reduced. These limitations are further compounded by the short manufacturing window between strain prediction and the start of the influenza season, as well as the limited supply of suitable eggs used for vaccine production. As a result of these issues, only a limited supply of annual vaccine is available.

FLU-v, a novel peptide vaccine, aims to provide a broad-spectrum response using peptide antigens matching immunogenic regions of conserved viral proteins found inside the viral capsid. These antigens have been shown to induce cytotoxic T-cell responses and non-neutralising antibodies in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. The FLU-v vaccine administered with and without adjuvant has been demonstrated to be safe in previous trials, and addition of adjuvant Montanide ISA-51 was shown to produce superior immunological responses compared to non-adjuvanted FLU-v. Data from a previous phase IIb study conducted as part of the UNISEC consortium suggest that the cellular and/or humoral responses resulting from vaccination with adjuvanted FLU-v may reduce influenza symptom severity and duration, although the study was not powered to assess these efficacy measures.

Presently, efficacy will be evaluated as a primary endpoint alongside safety as part of a single centre, placebo controlled, phase IIb viral challenge study, using influenza A 2009 H1N1 human virus, in suitable healthy subjects aged 18-60 years. Two dosing regimens will be explored. In addition, immunological endpoints will be addressed as exploratory endpoints.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy males and females aged ≥18 and ≤55 years of age at the point of enrolment.
2. Willingness to remain in isolation for the duration of viral shedding and to comply with all study requirements.
3. The following criteria are applicable to subjects in a heterosexual relationship and female subjects in a same sex relationship (i.e., the criteria do not apply to male subjects in a same sex relationship):

   1. True abstinence- when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject. (Periodic abstinence \[e.g. calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods\] and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception).

      Or
   2. Two forms of effective contraceptive methods among (between) the couple, which are defined as:

      * For males: condom with spermicidal foam/gel/film/cream, sterilisation (with the appropriate post-vasectomy documentation of the absence of sperm in the ejaculate. This applies only to males participating in the study).
      * For females:

   Women no longer of child bearing potential (post-menopausal females are defined as having a history of amenorrhea for at least 2 years, otherwise they should have documented status as being surgically sterile or post hysterectomy. The latter applies only to females participating in the study). If of childbearing potential, then acceptable forms of contraception include:
   * Established (a minimum of 2 weeks prior to admission) use of oral, injected or implanted hormonal methods of contraception.
   * Placement of an intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (IUS).
   * Barrier methods of contraception or occlusive cap (diaphragm or cervical/vault caps), both with one of the following - spermicidal foam/gel/film/cream/suppository.

     * The longevity of contraception is as follows:

   Males:
   * Comply with agreed contraception at entry to quarantine, and continuing until 90 days after the date of viral challenge/last dosing with IMP (whichever occurs last).
   * Must not donate sperm following discharge from quarantine until 90 days after the date of viral challenge/last dosing with IMP (whichever occurs last).

   Females:

   If of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at screening and just prior to the date of Viral Challenge, and must be using contraception consisting of two forms of birth control (one of which must be a barrier method) starting from at least 2 weeks prior to the first vaccination and continuing until 90 days after the date of Viral Challenge/last dosing with IMP (whichever occurs last).
4. Willing to have samples stored for future research.
5. Sero-suitable to the study challenge virus within 90 days of Day 0.
6. Agrees to abstain from alcohol intake 24 hours before admission on Day -2 or Day -1 and all other outpatient visits.
7. Agrees to not use prescription or over-the-counter medications (including aspirin, decongestants, antihistamines, and other NSAIDs), and herbal medication (including, but not limited to, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, immune booster products, herbal tea, St. John's Wort), within 14 days prior to study vaccine administration through the final follow-up visit, unless approved by the investigator and sponsor medical monitor.
8. An informed consent document signed and dated by the subject and the Investigator or delegate.
9. A history of childhood asthma before the age of 12 years is acceptable provided the subject is asymptomatic without treatment. Subjects with a single episode of wheezing (lasting less than 2 weeks) after the age of 12 years can be included at the Investigator's discretion provided the episode was more than 1 year ago and did not require a hospital admission and/or oral/intravenous steroids.
10. In good health with no history of major medical conditions that will interfere with subject safety, as defined by medical history, physical examination, and routine laboratory tests and determined by the Investigator at a screening evaluation.

    * A subject with a history of Herpes type 1 or 2 infection may be included if there are no active lesions present and the subject is not taking active medication.
    * A subject with or without any evidence of atopy including any history of allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, and conjunctivitis will be included as long as they do not conflict with exclusion criteria. Mild to moderate arthritis of non-inflammatory origin may be allowed if the subject is not at risk from relative immobility in the Quarantine Unit and does not require regular medication.
11. A documented medical history for a minimum of the last 2 years prior to inoculation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any subjects who have smoked 10 pack years at any time. Of those subjects that have smoked less than 10 pack years at any time, a subject will be excluded: If regular smokers (e.g., smoking every day) at the time of enrolment. If current casual smoker or use of smoking / nicotine-related products, they must agree to refrain from smoking during the in-patient stay
2. Presence of self-reported or medically documented significant medical condition including but not limited to:

   * Chronic pulmonary disease (e.g., asthma (except what is stated in inclusion criteria 9), COPD)
   * Chronic cardiovascular disease (e.g., cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, cardiac surgery, ischemic heart disease, known anatomic defects).
   * Chronic medical conditions requiring close medical follow-up or hospitalisation during the past 5 years (e.g., insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, haemoglobinopathies).
   * Immunosuppression, or immunodeficiency or ongoing malignancy.
   * Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy, epilepsy, stroke, seizures).
   * Post infectious or post vaccine neurological sequelae.
   * Hyperlipidemia requiring medical therapy per current American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines published in 2013.
3. Individual with body mass index (BMI) \<18 and \>35.
4. Acute illness within 7 days of first vaccine administration day
5. Clinically significant abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or parameters, as determined by the Investigator
6. Subjects with clinically significant abnormal systolic and diastolic blood pressure or clinically significant abnormal pulse rate.
7. Subject has abnormal pulmonary function as measured by spirometry defined as a forced vital capacity or forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) \< 80% of predicted or peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) \< 92% on room air.
8. Known allergy to treatments for influenza (including but not limited to oseltamivir, nonsteroidals).
9. Known allergy to 2 or more classes of antibiotics (e.g. penicillins, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, or glycopeptides). Known allergy to excipients in the challenge virus inoculum
10. Daily or household contact with vulnerable populations.
11. Receipt of any investigational drug:

    * within 3 months prior to the planned date of Viral Challenge/first dosing with IMP (whichever occurs first).
    * Receipt of three or more investigational drugs within the previous 12 months prior to the planned date of Viral Challenge/first dosing with IMP (whichever occurs first).
    * Prior inoculation with a virus from the same virus-family as the Challenge Virus.
    * Prior participation in another Human Viral Challenge study with a respiratory virus in the preceding 12 months taken from the date of Viral Challenge/first dosing with IMP (whichever occurs first) in the previous study to the date of expected Viral Challenge in this study.
12. Receipt of any vaccine within 6 months of enrolment.
13. Self-reported or known history of alcoholism or drug abuse (including marijuana) within 6 months prior to enrolment, or positive urine/serum test for drugs of abuse during the study
14. Self-reported or known history of psychiatric or psychological issues that require treatment and are deemed by the PI to be a contraindication to protocol participation.
15. History of a previous severe allergic reaction with generalized urticaria, angioedema, or anaphylaxis.
16. History or evidence of autoimmune disease or known immunodeficiency of any cause - with the exception of atopic dermatitis/eczema and atopic rhinitis.
17. Subjects with any history of physician diagnosed and/or objective test confirmed asthma (except as per inclusion criteria 9), reactive airway disease, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, or chronic lung condition of any aetiology.
18. Positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) within 60 days of first vaccination visit, active hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), or C (HCV) test.
19. Any significant abnormality altering the anatomy of the nose or nasopharynx (including significant nasal polyps).
20. Venous access deemed inadequate for the phlebotomy and cannulation demands of the study.
21. Any nasal or sinus surgery within 6 months of Viral Challenge.
22. Recurrent history of fainting.
23. Those employed or immediate relatives of those employed at hVIVO or the Sponsor.
24. Any clinically significant history of epistaxis (nosebleeds) within the last 12 months and/or history of being hospitalized due to epistaxis on any previous occasion.
25. Females who:

    * Are breastfeeding,
    * or have been pregnant within 6 months prior to the study,
    * or have a positive pregnancy test at any point during screening or prior to first dosing with IMP.
26. Presence of fever, defined as subject presenting with a temperature reading of \> 38.0°C on Day -43
27. Receipt of blood or blood products, or loss (including blood donations) of 470 mL or more of blood during the 3 months prior to the planned date of first dosing with IMP or planned during the 3 months after the final visit.
28. Receipt of systemic (intravenous and/or oral) glucocorticoids or systemic antiviral drugs within 6 months prior to the planned date of first dosing with IMP.
29. Any other finding that, in the opinion of the Investigator, deems the subject unsuitable for the study