A randomized, double-blind, dose-finding Phase II study to evaluate immunogenicity and safety of the third generation smallpox vaccine candidate IMVAMUNE.

IMVAMUNE is a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based virus that is being developed as a safer 3rd generation smallpox vaccine. In order to determine the optimal dose for further development, a double-blind, randomized Phase II trial was performed testing three different doses of IMVAMUNE in 164 healthy volunteers. All three IMVAMUNE doses displayed a favourable safety profile, with local reactions as the most frequent observation.

Safety and immunogenicity of IMVAMUNE, a promising candidate as a third generation smallpox vaccine.

A Phase I trial was performed to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of the third generation smallpox vaccine MVA-BN (IMVAMUNE), a highly attenuated clone derived from the Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara strain 571, in naive and pre-immunized subjects. A total of 86 healthy subjects received the vaccine in five groups using different doses and routes of administration. All 38 subjects seroconverted in the groups receiving the highest dose (10(8) TCID50).

Therapeutic vaccination of HIV-1-infected patients on HAART with a recombinant HIV-1 nef-expressing MVA: safety, immunogenicity and influence on viral load during treatment interruption.

The safety and immunogenicity of an HIV-1 nef-expressing modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) was investigated in 14 HIV-1-positive patients (CD4 >400/microl) on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Patients were vaccinated at weeks 0, 4 and 16, followed by interruption of HAART at week 18. MVA-nef was well-tolerated except for local reactions, with only mild systemic side effects reported in a few patients.

A phase I vaccination study with tyrosinase in patients with stage II melanoma using recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA-hTyr).

A significant percentage of patients with stage II melanomas suffer a relapse after surgery and therefore need the development of adjuvant therapies. In the study reported here, safety and immunological response were analyzed after vaccination in an adjuvant setting with recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara carrying the cDNA for human tyrosinase (MVA-hTyr). A total of 20 patients were included and vaccinated three times at 4-week intervals with 5x10(8) IU of MVA-hTyr each time.