Sanaria Publishes Results on Safety and Immunogenicity of Radiation-Attenuated PfSPZ Vaccine in Equatoguinean Infants, Children, and Adults in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

On May 9th, the American Journal of Tropical Health and Medicinpublished a Sanaria sponsored clinical trial on the safety and immunogenicity of PfSPZ Vaccine in infants, children and adults in Equatorial Guinea.

Abstract:

The radiation-attenuated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ) Vaccine has demonstrated safety
and immunogenicity in 5-month-old to 50-year-old Africans in multiple trials. Except for one, each trial has restricted
enrollment to either infants and children or adults , 50 years old. This trial was conducted in Equatorial Guinea and
assessed the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of three direct venous inoculations of 1.8 3 106 or 2.7 3 106 PfSPZ, of PfSPZ Vaccine, or normal saline administered at 8-week intervals in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial stratified by age (6–11 months and 1–5, 6–10, 11–17, 18–35, and 36–61 years). All doses were successfully administered. In all, 192/207 injections (93%) in those aged 6–61 years were rated as causing no or mild pain. There were no significant differences in solicited adverse events (AEs) between vaccinees and controls in any age group (P $ 0.17). There were no significant differences between vaccinees and controls with respect to the rates or severity of unsolicited AEs or laboratory abnormalities. Development of antibodies to P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein occurred in 67/69 vaccinees (97%) and 0/15 controls. Median antibody levels were highest in infants and 1–5-year-olds and declined progressively with age. Antibody responses in children were greater than in adults protected against controlled human malaria infection. Robust immunogenicity, combined with a benign AE profile, indicates children are an ideal target for immunization with PfSPZ Vaccine.

The full article can be accessed here.