Investigating the effects of a pertussis vaccine on colonization in healthy adults

A Phase 4, Randomised Vaccination Study in Healthy Adults to Investigate the Effects of Acellular Pertussis Vaccine on Colonisation with Bordetella Pertussis Using Controlled Human Infection

This study is testing whether a booster shot of the pertussis vaccine can help healthy adults avoid getting colonized by the whooping cough bacteria.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 99 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 50 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Radboud University Medical Center (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Nijmegen)
• Trial ID: NCT06903221 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate how a booster vaccination with the acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap-IPV) affects colonization by Bordetella pertussis in healthy adults. Participants will receive either the Tdap-IPV or Td-IPV vaccine and will be challenged with a controlled dose of the bacteria to assess the impact on colonization rates. The study will compare outcomes between those receiving the standard and a higher inoculum dose of the bacteria. The goal is to determine the effectiveness of the booster vaccine in preventing colonization.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults aged 18 to 49 who have received all primary pertussis vaccinations during childhood.

Not a fit: Patients who are over 50 years old or have not received their primary pertussis vaccinations may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance vaccination strategies against pertussis, potentially reducing infection rates.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using controlled human infection models to evaluate vaccine efficacy, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Participant (male/female) is born before 1-9-2004 and \< 50 years old on the day of screening
* Participant has received all primary pertussis vaccines during childhood
* Participant is in good health as confirmed by review of medical history and physical examination
* Participant has adequate understanding of the procedures of the study and agrees to abide strictly thereby
* Participant is able to answer all questions of the pre-consent questionnaire correctly
* Participant is fully conversant in the Dutch language
* Participant is capable and willing to give personal signed informed consent.
* Participant is able to communicate by both mobile telephone and text messaging
* Participant is willing and available to attend all study visits
* Participant agrees to inform his/her general practitioner (GP) about participation in the study
* Participant agrees to provide access to information regarding their vaccination background
* Participant agrees to provide a treating physician access to all study-related information and data
* Participant is able to arrive within 1h at the Radboudumc from his/her home address. The participant must have a home address and live in the Netherlands
* Participant is able to arrive within 3h at the Radboudumc at any time between Bp inoculation until the day 28 post challenge visit
* Participant is willing to take an antibiotic regimen after inoculation with Bp according to the study protocol
* Participant is willing to use infection control measures during social contact during the study
* Participant is willing to attend to the Radboudumc immediately if they become symptomatic

Exclusion Criteria:

* Incapacitated subjects without decision-making capacity.
* A confirmed diagnosis of pertussis in the last two years and/or serum IgG anti-FHA \>56 IU/mL
* History of severe adverse reaction associated with a vaccine and/or severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of the study intervention.
* Bleeding diathesis or condition associated with prolonged bleeding that would, in the opinion of the investigator, contraindicate intramuscular injection
* Other medical or psychiatric condition including recent (within the past year) or active suicidal ideation/behavior or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk of study participation or, in the investigator's judgment, make the participant inappropriate for the study.
* Individuals who are at risk of complications of a prolonged cough, such as individuals with stress urine incontinence, pelvic floor dysfunction or an inguinal hernia
* Chronic use of i) immunosuppressive drugs (e.g. systemic steroids, steroid nasal spray or isotretinoin), ii) antibiotics, iii) or other immune modifying drugs within three months prior to study onset (topical corticosteroids and oral anti-histamines exempted) or expected use of such during the study period.
* Individuals with a history of autoimmune disease or an active autoimmune disease requiring therapeutic intervention.
* Drug or alcohol abuse interfering with normal social function in the period of one year prior to study onset
* Diabetes mellitus
* Smoking: Any smoking event in the last month, including (e-)cigarette, joint, cigar and pipe
* Infection with Bp or any other Bordetella species at the baseline for challenge visit
* Individuals who have a history of receiving pertussis vaccination in the last 5 years
* Acute illness within 3 days prior to Bp inoculation (including mild upper respiratory tract infection, common cold, running nose)
* Any antibiotic treatment within 4 weeks before inoculation
* Receipt of any non-study vaccine within 14 days, before and after receiving the study vaccine or Bp inoculation
* For female participants: pregnancy, lactation or intention to become pregnant during the study. Female volunteers are required to use an effective form of contraception during this study. Acceptable forms of contraception include:

  * Established use of oral, injected or implanted hormonal methods of contraception
  * Placement of an intrauterine device or intrauterine system
  * Total hysterectomy
  * Barrier methods of contraception (condom or occlusive cap with spermicide)
  * Male sterilisation if the vasectomised partner is the sole partner for the participant
  * True abstinence when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the participant
* Known hypersensitivity to or contra-indications (including co-medication) for use of azithromycin or macrolides, see: azitromycine (oraal) (farmacotherapeutischkompas.nl). This includes: Clinically relevant bradycardia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia, cardiac arrhythmia or severe heart failure, congenital or acquired QT-prolongation, use of comedication which can cause QT-prolongation or is contraindicated co-medication: for a full list see: azitromycine (oraal) (farmacotherapeutischkompas.nl) - interactions.
* Participation in any other clinical study (unless observational) in the three months prior to the start of the study or during the study period
* Being an employee or student of the department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboudumc
* Any other condition or situation that would, in the opinion of the investigator, place the participant at an unacceptable risk of injury or render the participant unable to meet the requirements of the protocol
* Individuals who have inviolable commitments within the study period during the challenge (28 days in total) to make contact with:

  * infants aged \< 1 year
  * unimmunized children aged \< 4 years
  * pregnant women \>32 weeks who have not received pertussis vaccination at least a week prior to contact
  * chronically ill patients (e.g. asthma, COPD, heart diseases)
* Individuals who have household contacts working with

  * infants aged \< 1 year
  * pregnant women
* The use of mouthwash during the challenge (35 days)

Where this trial is running

Nijmegen

• RadboudUMC — Nijmegen, Netherlands (Recruiting)

Conditions Pertussis Infection; Pertussis Vaccines; Controlled human infection model; Pertussis; Pertussis vaccine; Acellular pertussis vaccine; Tdap-IPV