Efficacy Study of ChAd63MVA ME-TRAP Prime-boost Vaccination Against Plasmodium Falciparum Infection.

Malaria transmission is falling in some parts of Africa as bed nets and anti-malarials become more widely available. However, transmission still persists and it appears that additional control measures are required. The leading malaria vaccine candidate in development is RTS,S which has efficacy against clinical malaria measured at 30-50% in the field. This partial protection might be enhanced by combination with other components. The other vaccination approach that has produced repeatable efficacy in humans is the use of viral vectors to induce T cell responses. Previous attempts with this vaccine approach have been effective in challenge studies in Oxford, but ineffective in the field, probably because of reduced immunogenicity. Recently, studies in Oxford, Kenya and the Gambia have shown higher levels of immunogenicity by using a chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAd63) followed by an attenuated vaccinia virus (modified vaccinia Ankara) to deliver the pre-erythrocytic antigen, multiple epitope string with thrombospondin- related adhesion protein (ME-TRAP). The increase in immunogenicity has lead to sterile protection in 3 out of 14 volunteers and partial protection in 5 out of 14 volunteers in challenge studies. The investigators propose a Phase 2b study of 120 healthy adult men in Kenya. The investigators will assess the efficacy and further evaluate the immunogenicity and safety profile of the vaccine regimen. The investigators also intend to assess the correlates of efficacy and natural immunity.