TY - JOUR
T1 - A randomized controlled Phase Ib trial of the malaria vaccine candidate GMZ2 in African children
AU - Bélard, Sabine
AU - Issifou, Saadou
AU - Hounkpatin, Aurore B
AU - Schaumburg, Frieder
AU - Ngoa, Ulysse Ateba
AU - Esen, Meral
AU - Fendel, Rolf
AU - de Salazar, Pablo Martinez
AU - Mürbeth, Raymund E
AU - Milligan, Paul
AU - Imbault, Nathalie
AU - Imoukhuede, Egeruan Babatunde
AU - Theisen, Michael
AU - Jepsen, Søren
AU - Noor, Ramadhani A
AU - Okech, Brenda
AU - Kremsner, Peter G
AU - Mordmüller, Benjamin
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Background: GMZ2 is a fusion protein of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 3 (MSP3) and glutamate rich protein (GLURP) that mediates an immune response against the blood stage of the parasite. Two previous phase I clinical trials, one in naïve European adults and one in malaria-exposed Gabonese adults showed that GMZ2 was well tolerated and immunogenic. Here, we present data on safety and immunogenicity of GMZ2 in one to five year old Gabonese children, a target population for future malaria vaccine efficacy trials. Methodology/Principal Findings: Thirty children one to five years of age were randomized to receive three doses of either 30 μg or 100 μg of GMZ2, or rabies vaccine. GMZ2, adjuvanted in aluminum hydroxide, was administered on Days 0, 28 and 56. All participants received a full course of their respective vaccination and were followed up for one year. Both 30 μg and 100 μg GMZ2 vaccine doses were well tolerated and induced antibodies and memory B-cells against GMZ2 as well as its antigenic constituents MSP3 and GLURP. After three doses of vaccine, the geometric mean concentration of antibodies to GMZ2 was 19-fold (95%CI: 11,34) higher in the 30 μg GMZ2 group than in the rabies vaccine controls, and 16-fold (7,36) higher in the 100 μg GMZ2 group than the rabies group. Geometric mean concentration of antibodies to MSP3 was 2.7-fold (1.6,4.6) higher in the 30 μg group than in the rabies group and 3.8-fold (1.5,9.6) higher in the 100 μg group. Memory B-cells against GMZ2 developed in both GMZ2 vaccinated groups. Conclusions/Significance: Both 30 μg as well as 100 μg intramuscular GMZ2 are immunogenic, well tolerated, and safe in young, malaria-exposed Gabonese children. This result confirms previous findings in naïve and malaria-exposed adults and supports further clinical development of GMZ2.
AB - Background: GMZ2 is a fusion protein of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 3 (MSP3) and glutamate rich protein (GLURP) that mediates an immune response against the blood stage of the parasite. Two previous phase I clinical trials, one in naïve European adults and one in malaria-exposed Gabonese adults showed that GMZ2 was well tolerated and immunogenic. Here, we present data on safety and immunogenicity of GMZ2 in one to five year old Gabonese children, a target population for future malaria vaccine efficacy trials. Methodology/Principal Findings: Thirty children one to five years of age were randomized to receive three doses of either 30 μg or 100 μg of GMZ2, or rabies vaccine. GMZ2, adjuvanted in aluminum hydroxide, was administered on Days 0, 28 and 56. All participants received a full course of their respective vaccination and were followed up for one year. Both 30 μg and 100 μg GMZ2 vaccine doses were well tolerated and induced antibodies and memory B-cells against GMZ2 as well as its antigenic constituents MSP3 and GLURP. After three doses of vaccine, the geometric mean concentration of antibodies to GMZ2 was 19-fold (95%CI: 11,34) higher in the 30 μg GMZ2 group than in the rabies vaccine controls, and 16-fold (7,36) higher in the 100 μg GMZ2 group than the rabies group. Geometric mean concentration of antibodies to MSP3 was 2.7-fold (1.6,4.6) higher in the 30 μg group than in the rabies group and 3.8-fold (1.5,9.6) higher in the 100 μg group. Memory B-cells against GMZ2 developed in both GMZ2 vaccinated groups. Conclusions/Significance: Both 30 μg as well as 100 μg intramuscular GMZ2 are immunogenic, well tolerated, and safe in young, malaria-exposed Gabonese children. This result confirms previous findings in naïve and malaria-exposed adults and supports further clinical development of GMZ2.
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0022525
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0022525
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21829466
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 6
SP - e22525
JO - PLoS Computational Biology
JF - PLoS Computational Biology
IS - 7
ER -