The aim of this study is to investigate whether vaccination of elderly with VPM1002 could reduce hospital admissions and/or severe respiratory infectious diseases in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic . VPM1002 is a vaccine that is a further development of the old Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which has been used successfully as a vaccine against tuberculosis for about 100 years, especially in developing countries. VPM1002 has been shown in various clinical studies to be significantly safer than the BCG vaccine. VPM1002 strengthens the body's immune defence and vaccination with BCG reduces the frequency of respiratory diseases. It is therefore assumed that a VPM1002 vaccination could also provide (partial) protection against COVID-19 disease caused by the "new corona virus" SARS-CoV 2.
Based on the evidence that BCG [Bacille Calmette-Guérin] vaccine
1. can potentiate immune responses to other vaccines through induction of trained innate
immunity and heterologous adaptive immunity, and
2. can reduce the incidence of respiratory infections, exert antiviral effects in
experimental models, and reduce viremia in an experimental human model of viral
infection, it is hypothesized that BCG vaccination may induce (partial) protection
against the susceptibility to and/or severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
VPM1002 is being developed with the aim to replace BCG by a vaccine that has a better safety
profile and superior efficacy. Evidence from pre-clinical and clinical studies demonstrate
that VPM1002 is safer and is more immunogenic than the existing BCG vaccine (for more
information, please revert to the IB). It is therefore anticipated that VPM1002 will also
perform better in reducing the severity of the symptoms of an infection with the SARS-CoV-2
than the BCG vaccine. Further, manufacturing of VPM1002 using state-of-the-art production
methods will help hasten the production of millions of doses in a very short time and thus
would be beneficial in the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic situation.
The current trial will assess the efficacy and safety of VPM1002 to reduce the hospital
admissions and clinical consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the elderly population in
the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic by modulating the immune system.
A total of 2038 adults aged 60 or above will be enrolled across involved clinical trial sites
in Germany. Informed consent will be obtained from the subjects willing to take part in the
trial. This will be followed by assessment of the eligibility criteria. Subjects who fulfil
the inclusion/exclusion criteria will be centrally randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a
single dose (0.1 ml) of either VPM1002 or Placebo.
All subjects will be requested to sign into a web-based tool designed for this trial. Every
subject is encouraged to name a designated caregiver who may provide follow-up data in case
of hospitalisation or severe illness of the study subject. All subjects will be followed-up
entirely remotely. The questionnaires will be designed to collect data regarding
hospitalisation, adverse events (AE)/serious adverse events (SAE), ICU admissions and other
secondary endpoints. The investigators will review the outcome and safety data.
The duration of follow-up will be 240 days. Subjects with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection
(with or without symptoms) will be followed for at least 6 weeks (from the date of test
result), independent of the total trial duration.
Biological: VPM1002
The investigational product will be administered via intradermal injection with a 1.0-ml syringe, sub-graduated into hundredths of ml (1/100 ml), and fitted with a short bevel needle (25G/0.50 mm or 26G/0.45 mm, 10 mm in length).
Biological: Placebo
The investigational product will be administered via intradermal injection with a 1.0-ml syringe, sub-graduated into hundredths of ml (1/100 ml), and fitted with a short bevel needle (25G/0.50 mm or 26G/0.45 mm, 10 mm in length).
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Male or female adult (≥ 60 years)
2. Subject is contractually capable, able to understand information on study and has
signed informed consent sheet
3. Subject has access to an internet-enabled electronic device
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Known active or latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
2. Fever (> 38 °C) or respiratory tract infection within the past 24 hours
3. Current active viral or bacterial infection
4. Expected vaccination during the study period; vaccinations against influenza and
pneumococcal disease are allowed with ≥ 4 weeks between these vaccinations and the
trial vaccination
5. Participation in another interventional study within 30 days before screening and
during this study
6. Known hypersensitivity or allergy to (components of) the VPM1002 vaccine or serious
adverse reactions to prior Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) administration
7. Severely immunocompromised subjects, including:
1. subjects with known infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1);
2. subjects with solid organ transplantation;
3. subjects with bone marrow transplantation;
4. subjects under chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy;
5. subjects with primary immunodeficiency;
6. treatment with any anti-cytokine therapies;
7. treatment with oral or intravenous steroids defined as daily doses of 10 mg
prednisone or equivalent for longer than 3 months, or likely use of oral or
intravenous steroids in the next 4 weeks;
8. History of malignancies, unless the subject has been free of the disease for ≥ 2
years; exception: subjects with adequately treated basal or squamous cell cancer or
other localized non-melanoma skin cancer and adequately treated carcinoma in situ of
the cervix may participate in the trial
9. Previous positive SARS-CoV-2 test result
10. Person is an employee of the sponsor, a relative of the sponsor or investigator, or is
employed in the same department as the investigator
Hautarztpraxis Dres. Leitz & Kollegen
Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
MECS Cottbus GmbH
Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany
Studienzentrum Dr. Keller
Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
Klinische Forschung Hannover Mitte GmbH
Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
Medizentrum Essen Borbeck
Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
BAG Dres. med. Quist PartG
Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
SIBAmed GmbH & Co. KG
Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
SocraTec R&D GmbH
Erfurt, Thüringen, Germany
emovis GmbH
Berlin, Germany
Klinische Forschung Berlin GbR
Berlin, Germany
Klinische Forschung Hamburg GmbH
Hamburg, Germany
Leander Grode, Dr. rer. nat., Study Director
Vakzine Projekt Management GmbH