Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 to 38 Women only

PfSPZ-LARC2 vaccine test in women of childbearing potential in Mali

Official title: 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

Run by Sanaria Inc. · NCT07675785 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests whether the PfSPZ-LARC2 vaccine is safe and can help protect healthy women of childbearing potential in Mali from malaria.

More Malaria Falciparum trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 38 Years
SexWomen only
Enrollment300 (estimated)
SponsorSanaria Inc.
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsprednisone
Locations1 site (Bamako)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 20, 2026
Main results expectedJuly 15, 2028
Study endsApril 2030
Registry record updatedJuly 23, 2026
Trial IDNCT07675785 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Healthy women aged 18–38 in Mali who are willing to use contraception during vaccination and plan to become pregnant within the next year.

Probably not a fit

Individuals who are already pregnant at enrollment or who do not plan to become pregnant within the near term may receive no direct benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluates the safety, tolerability, immune response, and protective efficacy of a three-dose PfSPZ-LARC2 vaccine regimen given on days 1, 6, and 29. Participants are healthy Malian women aged 18–38 who use contraception during vaccination and may become pregnant in the near future. The study includes follow-up over two malaria transmission seasons and includes monitoring of pregnancy and birth outcomes. All participants receive antimalarial treatment before key vaccination points, and outcomes include malaria infection rates, immune responses, and safety signals. Two arms (PfSPZ-LARC2 vaccine vs placebo) enroll 150 participants each, with ongoing follow-up through delivery and at least one year postpartum for any pregnancies and offspring.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could reduce malaria risk for women who may become pregnant, potentially protecting both mothers and their future children.

How similar studies have gone: Prior malaria vaccine trials have shown mixed results; this study tests a novel 3-dose regimen for potential protective efficacy in a specific population.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Females of childbearing potential aged ≥ 18 and ≤ 38 years
2. Able to provide proof of identity to the satisfaction of the study clinician completing the enrollment process
3. In good general health and without clinically significant medical history
4. Willing to have blood samples stored for future research
5. Available for the duration of the study
6. 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)
7. Willingness to undergo HIV testing
8. Report being interested in becoming pregnant within the next 1 year

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnancy at the time of enrollment/vaccination, as determined by a positive urine or serum human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) test
2. Biologically unable to become pregnant secondary to: surgical sterilization, premature ovarian insufficiency (defined as no menses for ≥12 months without an alternative medical cause)
3. Behavioral, cognitive, or psychiatric disease that in the opinion of the investigator affects the ability of the participant to understand and comply with the study protocol
4. Hemoglobin (Hgb), WBC, absolute neutrophils, and platelets outside the local laboratorydefined limits of normal and ≥ Grade 2 (participants may be included at the investigator's discretion for 'not clinically significant' abnormal values)
5. Alanine transaminase (ALT) or creatinine (Cr) level above the local laboratory-defined upper limit of normal and ≥ Grade 2 (participants may be included at the investigator's discretion for 'not clinically significant' abnormal values)
6. Infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
7. Known or documented sickle cell disease by history (Note: known sickle cell trait is NOT exclusionary)
8. Clinically significant abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) such as abnormal QTc.
9. Evidence of clinically significant neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, endocrine, rheumatologic, autoimmune, hematological, oncologic, or renal disease by history, physical examination, and/or laboratory studies including urinalysis
10. History of receiving any investigational product within the past 30 days
11. Participation or planned participation in a clinical trial with an investigational product prior to completion of the follow-up visit 28 days following last vaccination OR planned participation in an investigational vaccine study until the last required protocol visit
12. Medical, occupational, or family problems as a result of alcohol or illicit drug use during the past 12 months
13. History of a severe allergic reaction (Grade 2 or higher or per PI discretion) or anaphylaxis
14. Severe asthma (defined as asthma that is unstable or required emergent care, urgent care, hospitalization, or intubation during the past two years, or that has required the use of oral or parenteral corticosteroids at any time during the past two years)
15. Pre-existing autoimmune or antibody-mediated diseases including but not limited to: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, or autoimmune thrombocytopenia
16. Known immunodeficiency syndrome
17. Known seizure disorder or history of seizures (exclusion: simple febrile seizure during childhood) or history of migraine headaches
18. Laboratory evidence of hepatitis B or C
19. Known asplenia or functional asplenia
20. Use of chronic (≥14 days) oral or IV corticosteroids (excluding topical or nasal) at immunosuppressive doses (i.e., prednisone ≥20 mg/day) or immunosuppressive drugs within 30 days of vaccination
21. Receipt of a live vaccine within the past four weeks or a killed vaccine within the past two weeks prior to Vaccination #1 and every subsequent vaccination day
22. Receipt of immunoglobulins and/or blood products within the past six months
23. Previous receipt of an investigational malaria vaccine in the last ten years
24. Known allergies or other contraindications against use of artemether/lumefantrine
25. Other condition(s) that, in the opinion of the investigator, would jeopardize the safety or rights of a participant participating in the trial, interfere with the evaluation of the study objectives, or would render the participant unable to comply with the protocol

Where it's running

  • University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology, Bamako (USTTB)
    Bamako, Mali
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.