Safety and Immunogenicity of HBAI20 Hepatitis B Vaccine in Naive Adults and Non-responders
Safety and Immunogenicity of HBAI20 Hepatitis B Vaccine in Naive Adults and Non-responders
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the HBAI20 vaccine is safe and more
 immunogenic than the HBVaxPro-10µg in people who have never been vaccinated with a hepatitis
 B vaccine and in people who have been vaccinated 6 times with hepatitis B vaccine but do not
 have a protective anti hepatitis B antibody titer.
Rationale: Worldwide, people are suffering from the consequences of Hepatitis B (HB) virus
 infection. Currently available vaccines are protective in most of the vaccinees, however, a
 small part of the population does not respond to these vaccines (non-responders). A new
 adjuvant (AI20) has been developed by CyTuVax to improve the standard Hepatitis B vaccine for
 the protection of non-responders. The AI20 adjuvant consists of depot-attached rhuIL-2
 (aggregated Interleukin-2 molecules attached to alum), facilitating the slow release of
 highly concentrated IL-2 nano aggregates. As shown in preclinical experiments, vaccination of
 mice, rats, and rabbits with the new HBAI20 vaccine results in higher and earlier immune
 responses to Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) compared to vaccination with one of the
 standard Hepatitis B vaccines. This clinical study will be done in order to assess the safety
 of the AI20 adjuvant and test if the AI20 adjuvanted Hepatitis B vaccine induces protective
 antibody titers in the vaccinated non-responders.

 Objective: In the current study we investigate the safety of the HBAI20 vaccine. Furthermore,
 the efficacy of the HBAI20 vaccine in non-responders is investigated.

 Study design: Partly double blinded randomized controlled intervention phase I study, partly
 open-label phase I study.

 Study population: Healthy volunteers (n=24) and registered non-responders (n=12), 18-59 years
 old, males and females.

 Intervention: The study will include 3 groups. HB vaccine naïve healthy subjects are
 randomized into group 1 and 2 and registered non-responders are included in group 3.

 "Group 1" subjects receive the standard HB vaccine (HBVaxPro-10µg), "Group 2" and "Group 3"
 subjects receive the HBAI20 vaccine. 2 subjects from "Group 3" will constitute "Group 3
 pilot" and will start the study 7 days before the start of the remaining "Group 3" subjects.

 All study subjects in groups 2 and 3 will receive two vaccinations with the assigned
 investigational medical product (IMP) at 0 and 1 month and one regular booster vaccination
 with the standard HB vaccine HBVaxPro-10µg 6 months after the first dose according to the
 recommended vaccination schedule for HBVaxPro-10µg.

 Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary study parameter is the number and intensity of
 local and systemic adverse reactions (redness, swelling, impaired movement). The secondary
 study parameter is the HBAI20 vaccine immunogenicity as calculated by the median titer,
 geometric mean titer, geometric mean titer increase, proportion of subjects with a virus
 specific antibody titer measure by the COBAS system of ≥ 10 mIU/ml, and seroconversion rate.
 Seroconversion is defined as a four-fold increase in titer or a conversion from seronegative
 to an anti-HBsAg antibody titer of more than 10 mIU/ml after vaccinations.

 Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group
 relatedness: Study subjects will be vaccinated 3 times at 0, 1 and 6 months from the
 beginning of the study and invited to the hospital for 8 visits. The risks associated with
 participation in this study are considered to be low and comparable with standard vaccines.
 Physical discomfort after vaccine administration can occur at the injection site (redness,
 swelling, etc.) and systemically (fever, fatigue, headache). Effects are expected to occur
 for a short period of time (within the first 4 days after the first and second injection). In
 addition subjects may experience adverse reactions to the cytokine component of the adjuvant.
 Because of the very low dose of the cytokine component of the adjuvant, which will be
 gradually released, the risks are expected to be low. The potential risks of venepuncture for
 blood sampling are mild pain and haematoma, and are considered low.

 The naïve subjects participating in this study will benefit from participating by receiving
 immunization against Hepatitis B. Subjects in the non-responder group may benefit when they
 become responders due to the effect of the HBAI20 vaccine.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  In good health as determined by the outcome of medical history, physical examination
 screening/baseline labs and clinical judgment of the clinical investigator

 -  Age 18 to 59 years, inclusive at the time of enrolment

 -  Willing and able to adhere to the study regimen

 -  Having a signed informed consent form

 Non-responders:

 - Documented non-responders: Subjects with documented two cycles of Hepatitis B vaccination
 (total of 6 vaccinations) and titer analysis that show that they have not developed the
 Hepatitis B antibody titer recommended after standard vaccination: anti-HBsAg antibody
 titer higher to 10mIU/ml.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Any infectious disease at the time of screening and/or enrolment

 -  Positive HIV, Hepatitis B virus or Hepatitis C virus serology

 -  Positive anti-IL-2 antibody titer

 -  Known or suspected immune deficiency

 -  Known or suspected disease that influences the immune system including chronic
 allergies that require frequent anti-allergy medication, cancer and transplantation
 recipients

 -  Known or suspected allergy to any of the vaccine components.

 -  Dialysis patient

 -  History of unusual or severe reactions to any previous vaccination

 -  History of any neurologic disorder, including epilepsy and autism

 -  Use of medication that influences the immune system (immune suppressive treatment)

 -  Any vaccination within 3 months before screening

 -  Blood donation within 1 month before screening

 -  Administration of plasma (incl. immunoglobulins) or blood products within 12 months
 before screening

 -  Participation in another clinical trial within 3 months before screening

 -  Abnormal pre-treatment laboratory parameters which are clinically relevant according
 to the investigator

 -  Bleeding disorders, or use of medication for bleeding disorders, and use of
 anti-coagulants

 -  Female subjects planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding babies until visit 7

 -  Females: positive urine pregnancy test. Urine test positive at screening date or
 positive urine pregnancy test on the day of vaccination

 -  Excessive alcohol or controlled drug use - More than 2 alcohol measures per day (one
 alcohol measure is a beer (250ml) or one glass of wine (125ml) or one strong measure
 (35ml) or one port/sherry (75ml)). Regular use of controlled drugs

 Exclusion criterion for Hepatitis B naïve subjects (groups 1 and 2):

 - Previous vaccination with Hepatitis B vaccine

 Exclusion criterion for non-responders (group 3):

 - Any Hepatitis B vaccination in the last 6 months

 Temporary exclusion criterion for vaccination

 - Ear temperature > 38.4°C will lead to postponement of participation and vaccination.
 Screening may continue when the temperature has normalized.