Valneva Initiates Second Phase 2 Study for its Lyme Disease Vaccine Candidate VLA15
Saint-Herblain (France), July 1, 2019 – Valneva SE (“Valneva” or “the Company”), a biotech company developing and commercializing vaccines for infectious diseases with major unmet needs, today announced the initiation of the second study of Phase 2 clinical development for its leading, unique Lyme disease vaccine candidate VLA15.
The overall Phase 2 objectives for VLA15 are to determine the optimal dosage level and vaccination schedule for use in Phase 3 pivotal field efficacy studies, based on immunogenicity and safety data.
Following the Run-In phase for Valneva’s first Phase 2 study VLA15-201, the two lead dosage levels have been selected for further development based on Data and Safety Monitoring Board clearance.
The objective of the now initiated second Phase 2 study VLA15-202 is to evaluate an alternative immunization schedule for the two lead dosage levels.
Wolfgang Bender, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, commented, “We are pleased to continue to progress our Lyme vaccine candidate development according to plan and as expeditiously as possible. The disease footprint is widening and the need for a vaccine to prevent this significant unmet medical need is increasing. With higher dosage levels and the potential alternative vaccination schedule, our ultimate goal is to further optimize our vaccine candidate by targeting a high efficacy from the first Lyme season.”
The Phase 2 duration is expected to be approximately two years with initial data (primary endpoint) expected mid-2020.
About The Phase 2 Clinical Study VLA15-202
VLA15-202 is the second of two planned Phase 2 studies. It is a randomized, observer-blind, placebo controlled trial conducted at trial sites in the US.
250 subjects will receive one of two dosage levels of VLA15 (100 subjects each) or placebo (50 subjects).
VLA15 will be tested as alum adjuvanted formulations with 135μg and 180μg dosage levels and will be administered intramuscularly in three injections, given at Days 1, 57 and 180 (as compared to Days 1, 29 and 57 in Study VLA15-201). Subjects will be followed for 18 months, with the main immunogenicity readout on Day 208 (primary endpoint). The study is enrolling healthy adults 18 to 65 years of age. Study centers will be located in areas where Lyme disease is endemic; subjects with a cleared past infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, will also be enrolled.
About Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a systemic infection caused by Borrelia bacteria transmitted to humans by infected Ixodes ticks. It is considered the most common vector borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 300,000 Americans3 are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year with at least a further 200,000 cases in Europe. Early symptoms of Lyme disease (such as a gradually expanding erythematous rash called Erythema migrans or more unspecific symptoms like fatigue, fever, headache, mild stiff neck, arthralgia or myalgia) are often overlooked or misinterpreted. Left untreated, the disease can disseminate and cause more serious complications affecting the joints (arthritis), the heart (carditis) or the nervous system. The medical need for vaccination against Lyme disease is steadily increasing as the disease footprint widens.
About VLA15
Valneva’s vaccine candidate, VLA15, is currently the only active vaccine program in clinical development against Lyme disease. The program was granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 20176 .
Valneva reported final Phase 1 data demonstrating VLA15’s favorable safety profile and immunogenicity in all doses and formulations tested, with good OspA-specific IgG antibody responses against all OspA serotypes. In addition, VLA15 elicited an excellent anamnestic response following a booster vaccination in a time window of 12 to 15 months after initial primary immunization. As part of the ongoing Phase 2, two higher, alum-adjuvanted formulations have been selected for further development8.
VLA15 is a multivalent, protein subunit vaccine that targets the outer surface protein A (OspA) of Borrelia. It is designed for prophylactic, active immunization against Lyme disease aiming for protection against the majority of human pathogenic Borrelia species in Europe and the US. VLA15 is designed to confer protection by raising antibodies that prevent Borrelia from migrating from ticks to humans after a bite. The safety profile is expected to be similar to other lipidated protein based vaccines that are approved for active immunization in adults and children.
The target population includes individuals at risk above 2 years of age living in endemic areas, people planning to travel to endemic areas to pursue outdoor activities and people at risk who have a history of Lyme disease (as infection with Borrelia does not confer protective immunity against all pathogenic Borrelia species). Vaccination with OspA was proven to work in the 1990s and VLA15 pre-clinical data showed that the vaccine has the potential to provide protection against the majority of the Borrelia species pathogenic for humans.
About Valneva SE
Valneva is a biotech company developing and commercializing vaccines for infectious diseases with major unmet needs. Valneva’s portfolio includes two commercial vaccines for travelers: IXIARO®/JESPECT® indicated for the prevention of Japanese encephalitis and DUKORAL® indicated for the prevention of cholera and, in some countries, prevention of diarrhea caused by ETEC. The Company has various vaccines in development including a unique vaccine against Lyme disease. Valneva has operations in Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and the US with over 480 employees. More information is available at www.valneva.com.
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