NCT05683834

Trial Evaluating the Immunogenicity and Safety of an Adjuvanted Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Glycoprotein 350 Vaccine in EBV-seronegative Persons

A Phase 1/2 Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial Evaluating the Immunogenicity and Safety of an Adjuvanted Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Glycoprotein 350 Vaccine in EBV-Seronegative Persons

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 1 / Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (actual)
• Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · NIH
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 25 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes most cases of infectious mononucleosis (mono). Mono can cause fatigue that lasts more than 6 months, and some people can have severe complications. EBV infection may also contribute to some cancers and autoimmune diseases. Currently, there are no approved therapies or vaccines for EBV infection. Objective: To test a vaccine against EBV. Eligibility: Healthy people aged 18 to 25 years. Design: Participants will be screened in 2 parts. They will have a blood test. If that test shows they have never had an EBV infection, they will have a second clinic visit. They will have a physical exam, with blood and urine tests. A cotton swab will be rubbed on their gums to collect saliva. Participants will receive 2 injections into a shoulder muscle. Some will receive the EBV vaccine. Others will receive a placebo; this contains harmless salt water with no vaccine. Participants will not know which one they are getting. The 2 injections will be 30 days apart. Participants will be asked to record any side effects or symptoms they have between visits. They can do this on paper or online. Participants will return for a follow-up visit 60 days after the first injection. They will have follow-up visits by phone or telehealth after 5 and 8 months. They will return for a physical exam after 13 months. They may come back for an optional physical exam after 2 years. Participants will come to the clinic if they become ill with an EBV infection during the study.

Detailed description

Study Description: This is a multisite randomized, double-blinded phase 1/2 study to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a 3-dose regimen of an adjuvanted EBV glycoprotein (gp) 350-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine in EBV-seronegative persons. We hypothesize that the vaccine will be safe and induce a potent EBV gp350-specific immune response. Sixty EBV-seronegative participants will be randomized; 30 will receive the EBV gp350-Ferritin vaccine and 30 will receive the placebo at Days 0, 30, and between 60 and 90. Participants will be followed for 1 year after the third dose with an option to follow for a second year. Primary Objective: To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of an adjuvanted EBV gp350-Ferritin vaccine administered to healthy EBV-seronegative adults. Secondary Objectives: 1. To evaluate the safety of the adjuvanted EBV gp350-Ferritin vaccine administered to EBV-seronegative adults up to 30 days after the third dose of study vaccine. 2. To preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the adjuvanted EBV gp350-Ferritin vaccine administered to EBV-seronegative adults. Exploratory Objectives: 1. To compare safety and immunogenicity of an accelerated 3-dose vaccination schedule (Days 0, 30, and 60 to 90) with the traditional vaccination schedule evaluated in NCT04645147. 2. To further evaluate the immunogenicity of the EBV gp350-Ferritin vaccine. Primary Endpoint: Change in mean EBV neutralizing antibody from Day 0 to 30 days after the third dose of study vaccine in EBV gp350-Ferritin vaccine recipients as compared with placebo. Secondary Endpoints: 1. Safety through 30 days after the third dose of the study vaccine: 1. Solicited local and systemic reactions within 7 days after study vaccine administration. 2. Unsolicited adverse events (AEs) through 30 days after the third dose of the study vaccine. 3. Serious adverse events (SAEs) through 30 days after the third dose of the study vaccine. 2. Reduction of viremia measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in EBV gp350-Ferritin vaccine recipients as compared with placebo in participants who become infected with EBV. 3. Reduction of EBV infection as measured by new anti-EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA)-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G or IgM or new EBV viremia for up to 2 years post-vaccination as compared with placebo. 4. Reduction of EBV-related infectious mononucleosis as defined by signs and symptoms consistent with infectious mononucleosis with laboratory evidence for new EBV infection for up to 2 years post-vaccination as compared with placebo. 5. Time to EBV infection as measured by new anti EBV VCA IgG or IgM or new EBV viremia. 6. Time to infectious mononucleosis as defined by signs and symptoms consistent with infectious mononucleosis with laboratory evidence for new EBV infection. Exploratory Endpoints: 1. Change in mean EBV neutralizing antibody from Day 0 to 30 days after the third dose of vaccine in EBV-seronegative vaccine recipients in the standard dosing regimen (Days 0, 30, and 180) vs accelerated (Days 0, 30, and 60 to 90). 2. Safety through 30 days after the third dose of study vaccine in the standard dosing regimen (Days 0, 30, and 180) vs accelerated (Days 0, 30, and 60 to 90). * Solicited local and systemic reactions within 7 days after vaccination. * Unsolicited AEs through 30 days after the third dose of study vaccine. * SAEs through 30 days after the third dose of study vaccine. 3. Increase in EBV gp350 IgG antibody in blood and/or EBV gp350 IgA antibody in saliva in vaccine recipients as compared with placebo. 4. Increase in CD4+ T-cell response in study vaccine recipients from baseline (pre-vaccine) to 30 days after the third dose of vaccine as compared with placebo in participants who become infected with EBV.

Conditions

• Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
• Infectious Mononucleosis
• Herpesvirus

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Matrix-M1 Adjuvant	Matrix-M1 is composed of 2 types of 40 nm-sized particles each with a different saponin fraction (fraction A and fraction B) combined with cholesterol and phospholipid.
DRUG	EBV gp350-Ferritin Vaccine	The EBV gp350-Ferritin vaccine is composed of Helicobacter pylori non-heme ferritin fused to EBV gp350 which self-assembles to form a nanoparticle. The vaccine is supplied in single-use vials at a concentration of 250 micrograms/mL in 1.7 mM KH2PO4, 5 mM Na2HPO4, 150 mM NaCl, 5% sucrose, pH 7.4 (diluent).
OTHER	Placebo Comparator	Normal Saline

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-09-22
• Primary completion: 2026-04-01
• Completion: 2027-04-01
• First posted: 2023-01-13
• Last updated: 2025-11-21

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study