Malaria
The clinical trials which are currently underway aim at inducing protective cellular immunity against the liver-stage malaria parazite (Plasmodium falciparum). Two vectors are used to deliver malaria antigen: a chimpanzee adenovirus vector as a priming agent and highly attenuated vaccinia virus (MVA) as a booster. The insert is the ME-TRAP liver-stage antigen. A phase I dose escalation study of 32 volunteers has been completed with good safety and excellent immunogenicity, considerably exceeding that observed in previous trials of vectored vaccines in Oxford. This is the first trial of any simian adenovirus as a vaccine and its successful use is encouraging trials of this approach for many other diseases, such as HIV. Clinical trials targeting blood stage malaria parazite should be underway shortly.
