A Phase 1/2A, Randomized Study of a T Follicular Helper (TFH)-Targeting Genetic Vaccine Strategy Designed to Induce Broad, Durable Immune Responses (NCT06810934)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The goal of this clinical trial is to test two investigational COVID-19 booster vaccines, called CoTend-s3BXBB and CoTend-BXBB, in healthy volunteers ages 40-64. The CoTend-s3BXBB vaccine includes a component called "s3", which was designed to improve the body's response to the vaccine. CoTend-BXBB is the same vaccine without s3. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1) Is the investigational vaccine safe? 2) Does "s3" lead to bigger, broader, and longer-lasting responses to the vaccine? 5 different doses of the vaccines will be studied. Participants will receive a single dose of either CoTend-s3BXBB, CoTend-BXBB, or placebo. Participants will be monitored for side effects. Saliva, nasal, and blood samples will be collected and immune responses to the vaccine will be measured.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (17 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (35 items).
Location: UCLA Westwood — Los Angeles, California
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria: Participants are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria are met:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- For participants capable of becoming pregnant and engaging in sexual activity that can lead to pregnancy, unwillingness to use contraception during participation in the study. For participants capable of becoming pregnant, two of the following forms of contraception are required through 30 days following administration of study intervention, one of which must be a barrier method:
- Condoms (male or female) with or without a spermicidal agent
- Diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
- Hormone-based contraceptive such as oral birth control pills
- Known close contact with anyone with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (defined as positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid or antigen testing by laboratory-based or home self-test) within 2 weeks prior to expected study entry
- Plan to receive a non-study SARS-CoV-2 vaccine within 8 weeks after study entry
- HIV infection
- Hepatitis B core antibody or hepatitis B surface antigen positive at screening
- Current active hepatitis C. Participants must be hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody negative or have evidence of cleared HCV infection. If the participant is HCV antibody positive or indeterminate, an unquantifiable HCV RNA result (below lower limit of quantification, either target detected or target not detected) within 42 days prior to study entry is required. Those who are currently receiving HCV antiviral therapy or those who have received HCV treatment in the last 3 months prior to study entry will be excluded.
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)
- UCLA Westwood — Los Angeles, California
- UCSF Community and Clinical Research Center — San Francisco, California
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.