Investigating a Vaccine Against Plague (PlaVac)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A phase I study to assess the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant adenovirus-based vaccine against plague
IRAS ID
279095
Contact name
Andrew J Pollard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Eudract number
2020-000710-15
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Plague is a disease caused by infection with the bacteria Yersinia pestis. In humans, infection can cause high fevers, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, bloodstream infection and, if left untreated, death. Since the 1990s, the number of human cases has increased in 25 countries including in Africa, Asia and the Americas and some strains are now resistant to antibiotics. This has resulted in occasional outbreaks, including the most recent large epidemic in Madagascar in 2017-18.
Where the bacteria has infected the lungs (pneumonic), unless antibiotics are started within 24 hours of becoming symptomatic, death will occur in near 100% of cases. From 2010-15, there were 3248 cases of human plague reported worldwide, with 584 deaths. It is found across the world but the largest burden is in very remote and poor parts of Africa and Asia. Plague can be treated effectively with antibiotics if treated early however this is often not possible in rural areas where a vaccine would be much more effective. In this study we are testing a new vaccine against plague. Currently there are no licensed vaccines against plague, other vaccines in development do not appear to provide the necessary level of protection or require 2-3 doses. Plague disease affects mainly poor populations in hard to reach areas in developing countries, where a single dose vaccine would be the most efficient. The ChAdOx1 Plague vaccine has been developed to provide protection after just one dose. This study is being conducted to assess the safety of the vaccine and how well it stimulates the immune system to protect against plague.REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0405
Date of REC Opinion
11 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion