Clinical Trial Info

A Trial to Learn About the Immune Response, Safety, and Degree of Typical Vaccination Reactions When CVnCoV is Given at the Same Time as a Flu Vaccine Compared to When the Vaccines Are Separately Given

Authored by
Staff

"CVnCoV" is a new SARS-CoV-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine which is currently being developed for the prevention of COVID-19. The vaccine contains a molecule called mRNA which serves as an instruction manual for the cells in the body to produce a piece of protein from SARS-CoV-2 which activates the body´s defense system. The "CVnCoV" vaccine is injected into the muscle. After the injection, the body recognizes the protein as something that does not belong there. In this way the natural infection with the virus is imitated. The body activates immune cells to produce antibodies against the virus and creates specific immune cells called T cells.

"CVnCoV" is given in two doses separated by 28 days. In this study, the researchers will look at how well "CVnCoV" works when the first of the two doses is given together with a flu vaccine called seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV). They will also look at how well the flu vaccine works under these conditions. The QIV is injected into the muscle and is given as 1 dose. To see how well the participants' immune systems is activated by "CVnCoV" and QIV, the researches will measure the levels of specific antibodies against the viruses in the blood. Antibodies are proteins that allow the immune system to find and react to bacteria and viruses in the body. The researchers will look into how safe the vaccination is and which type and degree of typical vaccination reactions are seen. To give "CVnCoV" and the flu vaccine together in the future when needed, e.g. during the flu season, would reduce the burden on the health system and on the patients.

Participants in this study are adults aged 60 years and older. In this study, participants are assigned to one of the two parallel groups of the same size. The assignment to either group is done by chance via a computer program. Participants in group 1 (Co-ad group) will receive CVnCoV at the same visit as QIV. Participants in group 2 (control group) will receive QIV and CVnCoV at two different visits. The Co-ad group will receive the first dose of CVnCoV and a dose of QIV in opposite arms at Day 1, the second dose of CVnCoV at Day 29, and a placebo injection, i.e. an injection that looks like a vaccination injection but does not contain vaccine, at Day 57. The control group will receive QIV and placebo in opposite arms at Day 1, the first dose of CVnCoV at day 29 and the second dose of CVnCoV at Day 57.

There will be five visits and four phone calls. During the study, the study team will take blood samples on four occasions to measure the antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and nasopharyngeal swabs at 1 occasion. The physicians will do physical examinations at each visit. The participants will be asked how they are feeling and if they have any medical problems. They will, in addition, receive an electronic Diary to report medical problems.