Official Title
A Phase 1/2A, Randomized Study of a T Follicular Helper (TFH)-Targeting Genetic Vaccine Strategy Designed to Induce Broad, Durable Immune Responses
Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test two investigational COVID-19 booster vaccines,called CoTend-s3BXBB and CoTend-BXBB, in healthy volunteers ages 40-64. The CoTend-s3BXBBvaccine includes a component called "s3", which was designed to improve the body'sresponse to the vaccine. CoTend-BXBB is the same vaccine without s3.The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1) Is the investigational vaccine safe?2) Does "s3" lead to bigger, broader, and longer-lasting responses to the vaccine?5 different doses of the vaccines will be studied. Participants will receive a singledose of either CoTend-s3BXBB, CoTend-BXBB, or placebo. Participants will be monitored forside effects. Saliva, nasal, and blood samples will be collected and immune responses tothe vaccine will be measured.

Detailed Description

Not Provided

Not yet recruiting
COVID-19

Biological: CoTend-BXBB (SARS2-30404)

Ad35-vectored SARS-CoV-2 RBD (XBB.1.5) vaccine

Biological: CoTend-s3BXBB (SARS2-17032)

Ad35-vectored s3-SARS-CoV-2 RBD (XBB.1.5) vaccine

Biological: Placebo

Sterile sodium chloride 0.9% for injection, preservative free

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals 40 - 64 years of age

2. Received at least two doses of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) > 120
days before study entry

3. Nasal SARS-CoV-2 negative by molecular (polymerase chain reaction, PCR) testing at
screening

4. The following laboratory criteria must be met at screening:

1. Total white blood cell (WBC) count > 3500 cells/mm3

2. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1500 cells/mm3

3. Hemoglobin > 13.5 g/dL if male sex and > 12.0 g/dL if female sex

4. Platelet count > 140,000/uL

5. Estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) > 50 mL/min by Cockroft-Gault equation

6. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.1x upper limit of normal (ULN)

7. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 1.3x ULN

8. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 1.3x ULN

5. Individuals of reproductive potential must have a negative serum or urine beta-human
chorionic gonadotropin (ß-HCG) test at screening and within 48 hours prior to entry.

Reproductive potential is defined as:

- Participants who have reached menarche

- Participants who have not been post-menopausal for at least 12 consecutive
months with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ≥40 IU/mL or 24 consecutive
months if an FSH is not available

- Participants who have not undergone surgical contraception (e.g., hysterectomy,
bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral salpingectomy)
NOTE: Participants who have undergone bilateral tubal ligation within the 24
weeks prior to screening are considered to be of reproductive potential and, if
participating in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy, contraception is
required as per 5.2.2 exclusion criterion 2.

6. Able and willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria are met:

1. Pregnant or breastfeeding

2. For participants capable of becoming pregnant and engaging in sexual activity that
can lead to pregnancy, unwillingness to use contraception during participation in
the study. For participants capable of becoming pregnant, two of the following forms
of contraception are required through 30 days following administration of study
intervention, one of which must be a barrier method:

1. Condoms (male or female) with or without a spermicidal agent

2. Diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide

3. Intrauterine device (IUD)

4. Hormone-based contraceptive such as oral birth control pills

3. Known close contact with anyone with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (defined as
positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid or antigen testing by laboratory-based or home
self-test) within 2 weeks prior to expected study entry

4. Plan to receive a non-study SARS-CoV-2 vaccine within 8 weeks after study entry

5. HIV infection

6. Hepatitis B core antibody or hepatitis B surface antigen positive at screening

7. Current active hepatitis C. Participants must be hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody
negative or have evidence of cleared HCV infection. If the participant is HCV
antibody positive or indeterminate, an unquantifiable HCV RNA result (below lower
limit of quantification, either target detected or target not detected) within 42
days prior to study entry is required. Those who are currently receiving HCV
antiviral therapy or those who have received HCV treatment in the last 3 months
prior to study entry will be excluded.

8. History of cirrhotic liver disease

9. History of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), immune thrombocytopenia,
thromboembolic events, capillary leak syndrome, other thrombotic disease or known
increased risk of thrombosis due to genetic disorders or malignancy

10. History of or active autoimmune disease that has required systemic immunosuppressive
or immunomodulatory therapy

11. History of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis

12. Potential myocarditis or pericarditis identified at screening, defined as
high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) > ULN or 12-lead ECG compatible with
pericarditis WITH compatible symptoms (regardless of troponin I level) at screening

13. History of Guillain-Barré syndrome

14. History of coagulopathy or bleeding disorder considered a contraindication to
intramuscular injection or phlebotomy

15. Symptomatic acute or chronic illness requiring ongoing medical or surgical care,
including requirement for new medications, in the past 3 months. Transient illnesses
or injuries that are resolved prior to screening are not exclusionary. Minor
adjustments in stable therapy for chronic conditions such as hypertension are not
exclusionary. Use of over-the-counter medications for any acute or chronic illness
is also not exclusionary.

16. Serious medical or psychiatric illness that, in the opinion of the site
investigator, would interfere with the ability to adhere to study requirements or to
give informed consent

17. Treatment with systemic immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs, and/or exposure
to any immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory drug in the 30 days prior to study entry
(e.g. corticosteroid therapy equal to or exceeding a dose of 20 mg/day of prednisone
for more than 10 days, interleukins, interferons, methotrexate, rituximab, and
cancer chemotherapy). Use of topical, inhaled, intra-articular, or nasal steroid use
is not exclusionary.

18. Active malignancy or history of malignancy within the 4 years prior to study entry.
Non-melanoma skin cancers (such as basal or squamous cell skin cancers) and
non-invasive cervical or anal intraepithelial lesions are not exclusionary.

19. History of solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

20. History of primary immunodeficiency disorder

21. Ongoing complications or morbidity associated with prior diagnoses of malignancies
requiring continued medical or surgical intervention. Chronic stable complications
or morbidity not requiring new medications or other medical or surgical intervention
in the past 3 months are not exclusionary.

22. Administration or planned administration of blood products or licensed
non-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines <14 days prior to or within 14 days after study entry

23. Receipt of any antibody-based therapy (investigational or approved) for prophylaxis
or treatment of COVID-19 in the preceding 6 months

24. Receipt of immunoglobulin therapy in the year prior to study entry or scheduled or
anticipated immunoglobulin administration during the study period.

25. Prior receipt of any non-mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

26. Receipt of any SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the 120 days prior to study entry

27. Documented SARS-CoV-2 infection in the 120 days prior to study entry

28. History of anaphylaxis, urticaria, or other significant adverse reaction requiring
medical intervention (medications requiring a prescription or surgical intervention)
after receipt of a vaccine or intervention that includes one or more of the same
components contained in the study product

29. Have participated in an interventional clinical study within 28 days prior to
screening (based on medical history interview) or plans to do so while participating
in this study

30. Any clinical concerns as determined by the investigator that might affect the
potential participant's safety in the study.

Eligibility Gender
All
Eligibility Age
Minimum: 40 Years ~ Maximum: 64 Years
Locations

Not Provided

Contacts

Kara Chew, MD, MS
310-825-0796
kchew@mednet.ucla.edu

Stephanie Buchbinder, MPH
310-825-5147
SBuchbinder@mednet.ucla.edu

NCT Number
Keywords
Covid-19
Vaccine
SARS-CoV-2
MeSH Terms
COVID-19