Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study to Assess Safety, Immunogenicity, & Protective Efficacy of Late Liver Stage-arresting, Replication-competent Plasmodium Falciparum Sporozoite Vaccine (Sanaria® PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine) in Healthy African Adult Women of Childbearing Potential in Mali
A randomized double blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of 1, 6, 29-day PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine regimen given at a dose of 2 x10\^5 PfSPZ or placebo in healthy WOCBP, who are on pregnancy prevention during vaccination, but report plans to become pregnant in the near future. Participants will be randomized into two arms. Arm 1: (n= 150) will receive 3 doses of PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine (2x10\^5 PfSPZ) via direct venous inoculation (DVI) at 1, 6, 29 days. Arm 2: (n= 150) will receive 3 doses of normal saline (placebo) injection via DVI at 1, 6, 29 days. All volunteers will receive antimalarial treatment with artemether/lumefantrine (AL) \ 2 to 4 weeks prior to 1st (study day -14 to -28) and \ 2 weeks prior to 3rd injection (study day 44). Participants will be monitored for safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and malaria infection during the follow-up period. Participants will also be monitored closely for pregnancy as well post 3rd injection through the entire planned study duration (2 years post dose 1). If pregnant, women will be followed during the course of their pregnancy and for at least 1 year post-delivery (as well as their offspring) for safety and malaria infection. Malaria infections in participants and their offspring will be classified as asymptomatic or symptomatic (clinical cases).
• Females of childbearing potential aged ≥ 18 and ≤ 38 years
• Able to provide proof of identity to the satisfaction of the study clinician completing the enrollment process
• In good general health and without clinically significant medical history
• Willing to have blood samples stored for future research
• Available for the duration of the study
• Must be willing to use reliable contraception (defined as: pharmacologic contraceptives \[parental delivery\] or pre-existing intrauterine or implantable device) from 21 days prior to first vaccination (study day 1) to 28 days after last vaccination (study day 57)
• Willingness to undergo HIV testing
• Report being interested in becoming pregnant within the next 1 year