Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of INO-4800 for COVID-19 in Adults at High Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure

Inovio Pharmaceuticals

Status and phase: Terminated; Phase 3; Phase 2

Conditions: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); COVID-19 Disease; Coronavirus Infection

Treatments: Drug: INO-4800; Drug: Placebo; Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Industry

Identifiers

NCT04642638

WHO UTN: U1111-1266-9952 (Other Identifier)

INNOVATE

COVID19-311

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a Phase 2/3, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of INO-4800 administered by intradermal (ID) injection followed by electroporation (EP) using CELLECTRA® 2000 device to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in participants at high risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus - 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The Phase 2 segment will evaluate immunogenicity and safety in approximately 400 participants at two dose levels across three age groups. Safety and immunogenicity information from the Phase 2 segment will be used to determine the dose level for the Phase 3 efficacy segment of the study involving approximately 7116 participants.

Enrollment: 1,307 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Key Inclusion Criteria:

• Working or residing in an environment with high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 for whom exposure may be relatively prolonged or for whom personal protective equipment (PPE) may be inconsistently used, especially in confined settings.
• Phase 2 only: Screening laboratory results within normal limits for testing laboratory or are deemed not clinically significant by the Investigator.
• Be post-menopausal or be surgically sterile or have a partner who is sterile or use medically effective contraception with a failure rate of < 1% per year when used consistently and correctly from Screening until 3 months following last dose (Phase 2) or until last dose (Phase 3).

Key Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute febrile illness with temperature higher than or equal to 100.4°F (38.0°C) or acute onset of upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, sore throat).
• Positive serologic or molecular (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)) test for SARS-CoV-2 at Screening (this criterion applies to all Phase 2 participants and only applies after approximately 402 participants positive for SARS-CoV-2 serologic test are randomized in the Phase 3 segment of the study).
• Pregnant or breastfeeding or intending to become pregnant or intending to father children within the projected duration of the trial starting from the Screening visit until 3 months following the last dose (Phase 2) or until last dose (Phase 3).
• Known history of uncontrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) based on clusters of differentiation (CD4) count less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter (/mm^3) or a detectable viral load within the past 3 months.
• Is currently participating or has participated in a study with an investigational product within 30 days preceding Day 0.
• Previous or planned receipt of an investigational (including Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or local equivalent authorization) or licensed vaccine for prevention or treatment of COVID-19, middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS), or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (documented receipt of placebo in previous trial would be permissible for trial eligibility).
• Respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) requiring significant changes in therapy or hospitalization for worsening disease during the 6 weeks prior to enrolment.
• Immunosuppression as a result of underlying illness or treatment.
• Lack of acceptable sites available for ID injection and EP.
• Blood donation or transfusion within 1 month prior to Day 0.
• Reported alcohol or substance abuse or dependence, or illicit drug use (excluding marijuana use).
• Any illness or condition that in the opinion of the investigator may affect the safety of the participant or the evaluation of any study endpoint.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Sequential Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

---

1,307 participants in 6 patient groups, including a placebo group

Phase 2: INO-4800 Dose Group 1

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received one ID injection of 1.0 milligram (mg) of INO-4800 followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.

Treatment:

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Drug: INO-4800

Phase 2: INO-4800 Dose Group 2

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received two ID injections of 1.0 mg (total 2.0 mg per dosing visit) of INO-4800 followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.

Treatment:

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Drug: INO-4800

Phase 2: Placebo Dose Group 1

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants received one ID injection of placebo followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.

Treatment:

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Drug: Placebo

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Phase 2: Placebo Dose Group 2

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants received 2 ID injections of placebo followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.

Treatment:

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Drug: Placebo

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Phase 3: INO-4800 Dose Group (2.0mg per dosing visit)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received two 1.0 mg ID injections of INO-4800, each followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.

Treatment:

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Drug: INO-4800

Phase 3: Placebo Dose Group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants received 2 ID injections of placebo per dosing visit, each followed by EP using the CELLECTRA® 2000 device on Day 0 and Day 28.

Treatment:

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000

Drug: Placebo

Device: CELLECTRA® 2000