2 research outputs found
Phase I clinical trial in healthy adults of a nasal vaccine candidate containing recombinant hepatitis B surface and core antigens
SummaryBackgroundThe nasal vaccine candidate (NASVAC), comprising hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface (HBsAg) and core antigens (HBcAg), has been shown to be highly immunogenic in animal models.MethodsA phase I double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was carried out in 19 healthy male adults with no serologic markers of immunity/infection to HBV. This study was aimed at exploring the safety and immunogenic profile of nasal co-administration of both HBV recombinant antigens. The trial was performed according to Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 45 years and were randomly allocated to receive a mixture of 50μg HBsAg and 50μg HBcAg or 0.9% physiologic saline solution, as a placebo, via nasal spray in a five-dose schedule at 0, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days. A total volume of 0.5ml was administered in two dosages of 125μl per nostril. Adverse events were actively recorded 1h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 48h, 72h, 7 days and 30 days after each dose. Anti-HBs and anti-HBc titers were evaluated using corresponding ELISA kits at days 30 and 90.ResultsThe vaccine candidate was safe and well tolerated. Adverse reactions included sneezing (34.1%), rhinorrhea (12.2%), nasal stuffiness (9.8%), palate itching (9.8%), headache (9.8%), and general malaise (7.3%). These reactions were all self-limiting and mild in intensity. No severe or unexpected events were recorded during the trial. The vaccine elicited anti-HBc seroconversion in 100% of subjects as early as day 30 of the immunization schedule, while a seroprotective anti-HBs titer (≥10IU/l) was at a maximum at day 90 (75%). All subjects in the placebo group remained seronegative during the trial.ConclusionThe HBsAg–HBcAg vaccine candidate was safe, well tolerated and immunogenic in this phase I study in healthy adults. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of safety and immunogenicity for a nasal vaccine candidate comprising HBV antigens
ABX203, a novel therapeutic vaccine for chronic hepatitis B patients
Despite the existence of effective prophylactic vaccines, chronic hepatitis B remains a major public health problem, with more than 350 million people infected worldwide. Chronic infection increases the risk of serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Available therapies for chronic hepatitis B have limited efficacy and require long-term continuous treatments; that is why the development of therapeutic vaccines has been investigated as promising approach. In this sense, a novel vaccine formulation called ABX203 (HeberNasvac), based on the combination of the hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid and surface antigens, was developed. ABX203 has been studied in phase I, phase II and phase III clinical trial in treatment-naïve chronically infected patients in Bangladesh and in healthy volunteers in Cuba with promising results. In the present work we reviewed the main preclinical and clinical results of ABX203 development. Altogether, the data demonstrates safety and immunogenicity of ABX203 vaccine and support its use as a novel and competitive treatment alternative for chronic hepatitis B. The vaccine has been granted marketing authorization in Cuba