INO-4201 as Booster in Healthy VSV-ZEBOV Vaccinees

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a serious illness with a high fatality rate. Currently only one vaccine is available, VSV-ZEBOV/Ervebo; this vaccine is clinically effective and has been deployed as a preventive measure during recent Ebola outbreaks. The durability of protection afforded by this vaccine is unknown, however, and it is thought that a booster vaccination may be required to maintain immune responses. Recently, a synthetic DNA vaccine, INO-4201, was tested in humans and showed good immunogenicity and an enhanced safety profile.

This study aims to test whether the DNA-based candidate INO-4201 can be used as a booster in healthy volunteers previously vaccinated with VSV-ZEBOV.

This randomized placebo-controlled phase 1b trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of the DNA-based vaccine candidate INO-4201 in healthy adult volunteers who previously received a single injection of VSV-ZEBOV. These participants will be randomized to either INO-4201 or placebo, injected once intradermally (ID) followed by electroporation (EP) with the CELLECTRA2000 device. Volunteers will be observed for 1 hour after vaccination and will attend follow-up visits at the Clinical Trials Unit in the 24 weeks after injection (8 visits in all).

Primary outcome parameters are (i) the incidence of adverse events in relationship with INO-4201 from day 0 to 14, and (ii) geometric mean titers (GMT) of EBOV-GP-binding IgG antibodies at 4 weeks post-injection.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Has provided written informed consent prior to screening
2. Males and females ≥ 18 years old
3. Previously vaccinated with a single dose of VSV-ZEBOV at any dose between 10\^5 and 10\^8 pfu more than 6 months prior to inclusion
4. Free of clinically significant health problems, as determined by pertinent medical history and clinical examination at study screening
5. Has an acceptable site for ID electroporation considering the deltoid and anterolateral quadriceps muscles
6. Is post-menopausal, or surgically sterile, or has a partner who is sterile, or uses a medically effective contraception with a failure rate of \<1% per year when used consistently and correctly from screening until 6 months following last dose.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Female volunteers who are pregnant or breastfeeding at screening or prior to dosing
2. Administration of an investigational compound either currently or within 30 days of Day 0
3. Prisoner or volunteers who are compulsorily detained (involuntary incarceration) for treatment of either a physical or psychiatric illness
4. Active drug or alcohol or substance abuse or dependence
5. Planned administration of another Ebola vaccine (including rVSV-ZEBOV and Ad26/MVA-BN-Filo vaccines) during the study period
6. Administration of a live vaccine in the 21 days or an inactivated vaccine in the 14 days before planned injection
7. Current or anticipated concomitant immunosuppressive therapy (excluding inhaled, topical skin and/or eye drop-containing corticosteroids, or low-dose methotrexate). Systemic corticosteroids must be discontinued at least 4 weeks prior to first dose.

Temporary exclusion criteria:

1. Acute disease at the time of randomization
2. Active skin lesions at the potential injection site
3. Temperature ≥38.0°C at the time of randomization
4. Recent receipt of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine with final dose \<4 weeks prior