Valneva SE, a specialty vaccine company, and Pfizer Inc. reported further positive Phase 2 data for their Lyme disease vaccine candidate, VLA15. Based on these new results, Valneva and Pfizer plan to proceed with a three-dose primary series vaccination schedule in a planned Phase 3 clinical trial. The trial will evaluate VLA15 in adults and pediatric subjects 5 years of age and above and is expected to be initiated in 2022, subject to regulatory approval.
The Phase 2 trial, VLA15-221, compared the immunogenicity of VLA15 after administration of two (at months 0 and 6) or three (at months 0, 2 and 6) primary series doses in groups aged 5-11, 12-17 and 18-65 years. In the sub-analysis of adult participants (18-65 years old) who received VLA15 in either the two-dose schedule (N=90) or the three-dose schedule (N=97), performed one month after the last vaccination dose, VLA15 was found to be immunogenic with both vaccination schedules tested. These data are consistent with the strong immunogenicity profile observed for this age group in previous Phase 2 studies. However, the induction of anti-OspA IgG (anti-outer surface protein A immunoglobulin G) antibody titers was higher in participants who received the three-dose primary series compared to those who received the two-dose primary series, supporting the use of a three-dose primary series schedule in the planned Phase 3 clinical trial. The VLA15-221 trial is ongoing to assess the safety and immunogenicity of VLA15 in 5-17 year olds. Initial pediatric data are expected in the first half of 2022.
The analysis was also consistent with the acceptable safety and tolerability profile observed in previous studies of VLA15. No vaccine-related serious adverse events (SAEs) were observed.
Juan Carlos Jaramillo M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, said, “I’m very pleased with these results, which are critical for determining the optimal vaccination schedule for our planned Phase 3 trial. In partnership with Pfizer, we are excited to further investigate this vaccine candidate, which will hopefully help provide protection against Lyme disease for both adults and children.”
Kathrin U. Jansen, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of Vaccine Research & Development at Pfizer, said: “Lyme disease is increasingly impacting people throughout the northern hemisphere, potentially due to environmental changes and more active outdoor lifestyles. The continued positive data from the VLA15-221 trial support the ongoing development of this vaccine candidate, and we look forward to continuing to work with Valneva to potentially help protect people against Lyme disease.”
