This is a study to evaluate the efficacy, immune response, and safety of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine called SARS-CoV-2 rS with Matrix-M1 adjuvant in adults aged 18-84 years in the United Kingdom. A vaccine causes the body to have an immune response that may help prevent the infection or reduce the severity of symptoms. An adjuvant is something that can make a vaccine work better. This study will look at the protective effect, body's immune response, and safety of SARS-CoV-2 rS with Matrix-M1 adjuvant in the study population. Participants in the study will randomly be assigned to receive SARS-CoV-2 rS with Matrix-M1 adjuvant or placebo. Each participant in the study will receive a total of 2 intramuscular injections over the course of the study. Approximately 15,000 participants will take part in the study. The first approximately 400 participants who meet additional criteria will receive a flu vaccine, in addition to the SARS-CoV-2 rS vaccine or placebo, as part of a sub-study. An effort will be made to enroll a target of at least 25% of participants who are ≥ 65 years of age, as well as prioritizing other groups that are most affected by COVID-19, including racial and ethnic minorities. Unblinding of treatment assignment may occur in order to allow a participant to make an informed decision regarding receipt of an already approved or deployed SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Participants who choose to receive an approved or deployed SARS-CoV-2 vaccine as per UK government guidance will be encouraged to remain in the study for scheduled safety assessments.
Biological: SARS-CoV-2 rS/Matrix M1-Adjuvant
Alternating intramuscular (deltoid) injections of SARS-CoV-2 rS co-formulated with Matrix-M1 adjuvant (0.5 mL) on Days 0 and 21.
Other Name: NVX-CoV2373
Other: Placebo
Alternating intramuscular (deltoid) injections of placebo (0.5 mL) on Days 0 and 21.
Other Name: Sodium chloride 0.9% (BP, sterile)
Biological: Licensed seasonal influenza vaccine
Single intramuscular injection of licensed seasonal flu vaccine, administered ideally in opposite deltoid to SARS-CoV-2 rS with Matrix-M1 adjuvant or placebo injection on Day 0.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Able and willing to comply with all study requirements.
- Willing to allow investigators to discuss medical history with their General
Practitioner and access all relevant medical records.
- Willing and able to give informed consent.
- Women of child-bearing potential must agree not to have sexual intercourse with men,
or must consistently use an agreed method of contraception, from at least 28 days
prior to enrolment in the study, through 3 months after the last vaccination.
- Room air oxygen saturation > 95% at Screening/Day 0.
- Seasonal Flu Vaccine Co-Administration Sub-Study only: Participant should not have
received a current season flu vaccine, should have no reason why the specific
sub-study flu vaccine cannot be administered, and should not have any prior history of
allergy or severe reaction to seasonal flu vaccines.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participation in other COVID-19 vaccine or preventative drug trials for the duration
of the study.
- Future participation in any blood tests for the duration of the study where
participants are informed of their levels of COVID-19 antibodies or antigens.
- Participation in any trial involving an investigational drug, biologic or device
within 45 days prior to the first study vaccination.
- History of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection any time prior to first study
vaccination.
- Receipt of any immunoglobulins and/or any blood products within 3 months prior to
planned administration of study vaccine.
- Any confirmed or suspected immunosuppressive or immunodeficient state. Chronic
administration (defined as more than 14 continuous days) of immunosuppressant
medication within the past 3 months, except topical steroids or short-term oral
steroids (course lasting ≤ 14 days). Note: An immunosuppressant dose of glucocorticoid
is defined as a systemic dose ≥ 10 mg of prednisone per day or equivalent. The use of
topical, inhaled, and nasal glucocorticoids will be permitted if other chronic disease
conditions do not exclude a participant from the study.
- History of allergic disease or reactions likely to be made worse by any component of
the study vaccines.
- History of anaphylaxis to any prior vaccine.
- Pregnancy, breast-feeding or willingness/intention to become pregnant within 3 months
following the last study vaccination.
- Current diagnosis of or treatment for cancer (except basal cell carcinoma of the skin
and cervical carcinoma in situ.
- Bleeding disorder, or prior history of significant bleeding or bruising following
intramuscular injections or venepuncture (e.g. to draw blood for tests).
- Continuous use of anticoagulants or anti-platelet agents. Note: The preventative use
of ≤ 325 mg of aspirin per day is permitted.
- Suspected or known current alcohol or drug dependency.
- Study team member or first-degree relative of any study team member (inclusive of
sponsor, contract research organization (CRO), and site personnel involved in the
study).
- Participants having any current workup of undiagnosed illness within 8 weeks prior to
start of study which could lead to new condition or diagnosis.
- Received any live vaccine within 4 weeks or any vaccine (excluding flu) within 2 weeks
prior to first study vaccination; or any licensed flu vaccine within 1 week prior to
first study vaccination or plans to receive any vaccine from these time periods until
28 days after the second study vaccination.
- Have clinically significant chronic cardiovascular, endocrine (hormones),
gastrointestinal, hepatic (including hepatitis B and C), renal (kidney), neurological,
respiratory, psychiatric or other medical disorders not excluded by other exclusion
criteria, that are assessed by the investigator as being clinically unstable within
the prior 4 weeks as evidenced by: a) Hospitalisation for the condition, including day
surgical interventions; b) New significant organ function deterioration; or c) Needing
addition of new treatments or major dose adjustments of current treatments (mild or
moderate well-controlled comorbidities are allowed).
- History of chronic neurological disorders that have required prior specialist
physician review for diagnosis and management (such as multiple sclerosis, dementia,
transient ischemic attacks, Parkinson's disease, degenerative neurological conditions,
and neuropathy) or a history of stroke or previous neurological disorder within 12
months with residual symptoms. Participants with a history of migraine or chronic
headaches or nerve root compression that have been stable on treatment for the last 4
weeks are not excluded.
- Any autoimmune disease/condition (iatrogenic or congenital).
- Any other significant disease, disorder or finding that, in the opinion of the
investigator, may significantly increase the risk to the volunteer because of
participation in the study, affect the ability of the volunteer to participate in the
study, or impair interpretation of the study data.
- Participant requires the use of continuous oxygen therapy or any oxygen therapy while
awake or is anticipated to require daytime oxygen therapy during the course of the
study.
Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) (Site UK011)
Belfast, Antrim, United Kingdom
Synexus Midlands Clinical Research Centre (Site UK024)
Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (Site UK036)
Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Site UK013)
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
"Maidstone Hospital - Central Research and Development Office Above Breast Care Centre - 1st Floor" (Site UK028)
Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (Site UK008)
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals (Site UK010)
Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Salford Hospital (Site UK030)
Oldham, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Synexus Merseyside Clinical Research Centre (Site UK026)
Waterloo, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Royal Free (Site UK012)
Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Clinical Research Facility (Site UK001)
Tooting, London, United Kingdom
North Wales Clinical Research Centre (NWCRC) (Site UK027)
Wrexham, North Wales, United Kingdom
Lakeside Healthcare, Lakeside Surgery (Site UK005)
Corby, Northants, United Kingdom
Warneford Hospital (Site UK016)
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (Site UK007), Foresterhill
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (Site UK018)
Bradford, United Kingdom
Synexus Wales Clinical Research Centre (Site UK025)
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Synexus Lancashire Clinical Research Centre (Site UK022)
Chorley, United Kingdom
Colchester Hospital (Site UK034)
Colchester, United Kingdom
AES - Glasgow (Site UK033)
Glasgow, United Kingdom
University Hartlepool Hospital (Site UK021)
Hartlepool, United Kingdom
Synexus Hexham Clinical Research Centre (Site UK023)
Hexham, United Kingdom
Royal Lancaster Infirmary (Site UK029)
Lancaster, United Kingdom
Research & Innovation Centre, St. James's University Hospital (Site UK019)
Leeds, United Kingdom
St. Thomas' Hospital (Site UK020)
London, United Kingdom
Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust (Site UK006)
London, United Kingdom
AES - Synexus Manchester (Site UK032)
Manchester, United Kingdom
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (Site UK015)
Norwich, United Kingdom
Wansford and Kingscliffe Practice (Site UK035)
Peterborough, United Kingdom
AES - Synexus Thames Valley (Site UK031)
Reading, United Kingdom
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) (Site UK014)
Southampton, United Kingdom
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Headquarters (Site UK017)
Stafford, United Kingdom
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust (Site UK009)
Stockport, United Kingdom