NCT00046397

Brief Summary

This study will test the safety of an experimental vaccine called Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara (MVA) for use against the smallpox virus. It will also investigate how many injections of MVA are needed to produce immunity against vaccinia virus, which is closely related to the smallpox virus. An effective smallpox vaccine exists, but it can cause side effects that, on rare occasions, can be life-threatening. The FDA gave new license approval for Dryvax on 10/25/02, but has not been used in the general population since smallpox was eradicated worldwide. Both the MVA and Dryvax® (Registered Trademark) vaccines are made using the vaccinia virus, however the MVA vaccine contains a more attenuated, or weakened, form of the virus. \[http://www.fda.gov/cber/products/smalwye102502.htm\] Healthy normal volunteers between 18 and 30 years of age, who have never been vaccinated with a smallpox vaccine, may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, and blood and urine tests, including an HIV test and a pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential. MVA, placebo and Dryvax® (Registered Trademark) will be administered by different methods. The MVA vaccine and placebo are injected into an arm muscle with a needle and syringe. The Dryvax® (Registered Trademark) vaccine is administered, as it was for many years, with a special forked needle that is poked lightly into the skin of the upper arm, usually 15 times, in a process called scarification. When the vaccine works, a small pus-filled blister forms, followed by a scab and then scarring at the site of the vaccination. The formation of the blister and scab is called a take, indicating that the vaccine is effective and is evidence of the development of immunity. The development of a take suggests that an individual will be protected against smallpox for at least a few years. If scarification does not take, it can either mean that the person already has immunity or that the vaccine did not work. Participants will be assigned to groups, as well as, product randomly. For instance, the first study participant could be enrolled into group 3. The Dryvax® (Registered Trademark) dose is given as a challenge to see if the person has a take. A reduced take response or no take, could suggest that MVA is able to produce an immune response. The dosing schedules vary from 12 to 24 weeks and volunteers are in the study a total of 24 to 36 weeks, depending on the number of injections. Participants will be observed for at least 1 hour after each injection. They will come to the clinic a week after MVA or placebo injections and at least twice a week after Dryvax® (Registered Trademark) for about 21 days to have the injection site evaluated and photographed. At each visit, participants will be asked about how they are feeling and if they are taking any medications. Blood and urine tests will be done on injection days and at follow up visits scheduled 1 and 4 weeks after each immunization as well as 12 weeks after the Dryvax® (Registered Trademark) challenge dose. Additional tests may be done between visits if medically necessary.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
195

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_1 healthy

Timeline
Completed

Started Sep 2002

Longer than P75 for phase_1 healthy

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 1, 2002

Completed
26 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 27, 2002

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 30, 2002

Completed
2.8 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 1, 2005

Completed
Last Updated

March 4, 2008

Status Verified

August 1, 2005

First QC Date

September 27, 2002

Last Update Submit

March 3, 2008

Conditions

Keywords

SmallpoxVaccineVaccinationVariolaAdultsSmallpox VaccineHealthy VolunteerSmall Pox

Interventions

Eligibility Criteria

Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age: at least 18 years and birth year no earlier than 1964.
  • Available for follow-up for the duration of the study (maximum of 28 weeks; varies according to schedule).
  • Able and willing to sign the informed consent form.
  • Willing to have blood samples that will be stored for future research.
  • In good general health, without clinically significant medical history, physical examination findings or laboratory results.
  • Hematocrit greater than or equal to 34 percent for women; greater than or equal to 38 percent for men.
  • White cell count within institutional normal limits.
  • Differential either within institutional normal range or accompanied by site physician approval.
  • Total lymphocyte count greater than of equal to 1000 cells/mm3.
  • Absolute CD4 count greater than or equal to 400 cells/mm3.
  • Platelets within institutional normal limits.
  • ALT (SGPT) less than or equal to institutional upper normal limit.
  • Serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.3 mg/dL and calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) greater than or equal to 55 mL/min using the formula below:
  • Male CrCl (mL/min) \&eq; 140 - age (yrs)\] x \[body wt (kg)\] divided by 72 x \[serum Cr (mg/dL)\]
  • Female CrCl (mL/min) \&eq; \[140 - age (yrs)\] x \[body wt (kg) x 0.85\] divided by 72 x \[serum Cr (mg/dL)\]
  • +7 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • Volunteers are excluded from study participation if one or more of the following criteria applies:
  • Prior vaccination with any vaccinia product.
  • Diseases or conditions that cause immunodeficiency (examples are HIV AIDS, leukemia, lymphoma, generalized malignancy, agammaglobulinemia, history of transplantation, or therapy with alkylating agents, antimetabolites, radiation, or oral or parenteral corticosteroids).
  • In close physical contact (household or at work) with an individual who has the diseases or conditions that cause immunodeficiency.
  • History of eczema, even if the condition is mild or not presently active.
  • In close physical contact (household or at work) with an individual who has eczema even if mild or not presently active.
  • Acute or chronic skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, or varicella zoster (shingles).
  • Household member who is pregnant.
  • Women who are breast-feeding.
  • Household member less than 1 year old or work with children less than 1 year old.
  • Serious, life-threatening allergies to antibiotics polymixin B, streptomycin, tetracycline, neomycin, or cidofovir.
  • Allergy to eggs or blood products (including immunoglobulin products) or hypersensitivity to probenicid or sulfa-containing medications.
  • Receipt of live attenuated viruses within 30 days prior to enrollment.
  • Receipt of subunit or killed vaccines within 14 days prior to enrollment.
  • Use of investigational research agents within 30 days prior to enrollment.
  • +18 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Stittelaar KJ, Osterhaus AD. MVA: a cuckoo in the vaccine nest? Vaccine. 2001 Jun 14;19(27):V-VI. doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(01)00171-2. No abstract available.

    PMID: 11395217BACKGROUND
  • Henderson DA, Inglesby TV, Bartlett JG, Ascher MS, Eitzen E, Jahrling PB, Hauer J, Layton M, McDade J, Osterholm MT, O'Toole T, Parker G, Perl T, Russell PK, Tonat K. Smallpox as a biological weapon: medical and public health management. Working Group on Civilian Biodefense. JAMA. 1999 Jun 9;281(22):2127-37. doi: 10.1001/jama.281.22.2127.

    PMID: 10367824BACKGROUND
  • Henderson DA. The looming threat of bioterrorism. Science. 1999 Feb 26;283(5406):1279-82. doi: 10.1126/science.283.5406.1279.

    PMID: 10037590BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Smallpox

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Poxviridae InfectionsDNA Virus InfectionsVirus DiseasesInfections

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 1
Purpose
TREATMENT
Sponsor Type
NIH

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 27, 2002

First Posted

September 30, 2002

Study Start

September 1, 2002

Study Completion

August 1, 2005

Last Updated

March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2005-08

Locations