A Phase 2b, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Intramuscularly Administered CssBA+dmLT Against Moderate-severe Diarrhea in a Controlled Human Infection Model With Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli (ETEC) Strain B7A in Healthy Adults
The study is designed to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the intramuscular administration of a CS6 based vaccine (CssBA) against ETEC co-administered with double mutant labile toxin (dmLT) in preventing moderate-severe diarrhea (MSD) following challenge with ETEC strain B7A in healthy adults. Approximately 72 adult participants, divided into 4 cohorts of 18, will be randomized 1:1 to receive vaccine (45 micrograms CssBA with 0.5 micrograms dmLT) or placebo (normal saline) on an outpatient basis. All participants will receive 3 intramuscular (IM) doses of vaccine or placebo at 3-week intervals (days 1, 22 and 43). Following vaccination, participants will be followed as outpatients for safety using a memory aid from the time of each vaccination through 7 days post each vaccination. Approximately 28 days (plus or minus 1 day) after receipt of the 3rd dose of study agent, participants meeting challenge criteria will be admitted to an inpatient unit and be administered an oral dose of 1 x 10\^10 cfu (colony-forming unit) of ETEC strain B7A. Five days after challenge, participants will be treated with ciprofloxacin, except in cases of known allergy or intolerance. Participants will be discharged from the inpatient unit when they have completed their 3-day antibiotic course and are able to care for themselves. After discharge from the inpatient unit, participants will return for clinic visits and have a phone visit to provide any updates on medication, medical history and AE/SAEs. The primary objectives are: 1) Estimate CssBA+dmLT efficacy in preventing moderate-severe diarrhea (MSD) following challenge with ETEC strain B7A in healthy adults. 2) Evaluate the safety of intramuscular injection of CssBA+dmLT.
• Non-pregnant, non-breast-feeding adults, age 18 to 49 years (inclusive) at the time of enrollment.
• Willing and able to sign and date informed consent document prior to study procedures.
• Stated willingness to be available for all study visits and comply with all trial procedures throughout the duration of the trial, including adherence to Lifestyle Considerations.
• Participants of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at study enrollment.
• For participants of childbearing potential\*: agree to use highly effective contraception with heterosexual intercourse for at least 1 month prior to the first vaccination through at least two months after receipt of the challenge agent or last dose of study product if not challenged. True abstinence is also acceptable.
‣ Childbearing potential in a participant assigned female at birth is defined as not sterilized via tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy, salpingectomy, hysterectomy, or successful Essure(R) placement (permanent, non-surgical, non-hormonal sterilization) with documented radiological confirmation test at least 90 days after the procedure, and still menstruating or \<1 year of the last menses if menopausal.
⁃ Acceptable forms of highly effective contraception for participants assigned female at birth include same sex relationships, abstinence from sexual intercourse with a male partner, monogamous relationship with vasectomized partner who has been vasectomized for 180 days or more prior to the participant enrollment, barrier methods such as condoms or diaphragms with spermicide, effective intrauterine devices, NuvaRing(R), and licensed hormonal methods such as implants, injectables, or oral contraceptives (the pill). Periodic abstinence \[e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods\] and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.
• Body mass index (BMI) 19 to less than 40 kg/m\^2 at screening.
• In good health. As determined by medical history and physical examination to evaluate acute or ongoing chronic medical diagnoses/conditions that have been present for at least 90 days, which would affect the assessment of safety of participants and interpretations of the scientific aims of the trial. Chronic medical diagnoses/conditions should be stable for the last 60 days (no hospitalizations, ER, or urgent care for condition or need for supplemental oxygen). This includes no change in chronic prescription medication, dose, or frequency as a result of deterioration of the chronic medical diagnosis/condition in the 60 days before enrollment. Any prescription change that is due to change of health care provider, insurance company, etc., or done for financial reasons, and in the same class of medication, will not be considered a deviation of this inclusion criterion. Any change in prescription medication due to improvement of a disease outcome, as determined by the Principal or sub-Investigator licensed to make medical diagnosis, will not be considered a deviation of this inclusion criterion. Participants may be on chronic or as needed (prn) medications if, in the opinion of the participating site PI or appropriate sub-investigator, they pose no additional risk to participant safety or assessment of reactogenicity and immunogenicity, and do not indicate a worsening of medical diagnosis/condition. Similarly, medication changes subsequent to enrollment and trial vaccination are acceptable provided the change was not precipitated by deterioration in the chronic medical condition, and there is no anticipated additional risk to the participant or interference with the evaluation of responses to trial vaccination.
• Oral temperature is less than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) at the time of enrollment.
• Heart rate (HR) 60 to 100 beats per minute, inclusive. If participant baseline HR is between 50 and 60 beats per minute and the Principal or sub-Investigator licensed to make medical diagnosis determines that this is not clinically significant (e.g., if they are known to be high intensity athletes, have no clinical symptoms associated with the bradycardia, and have no signs or symptoms of other diseases causing bradycardia), this will NOT be considered a grade 1 adverse event and the participant still will be eligible.
⁃ Blood pressure (BP):systolic BP \>/= 90 to \</= 140 mm Hg; diastolic BP \>/=55 to \</=90 mmHg.
⁃ Must agree to refrain from donating blood or plasma (outside of this trial) from the first dose of study product until at least 30 days after completion of inpatient portion of the trial or last day of study product if not challenged.