The Search for an Effective Hepatitis C Virus Vaccine Continues

A vaccine in a regimen using chimpanzee adenovirus 3 and modified vaccinia Ankara vectors encoding HCV nonstructural proteins was safe but did not prevent chronic HCV infection.

Despite the advent of effective therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a safe and effective vaccine is still needed to prevent such infections. Investigators tested a heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy using chimpanzee adenovirus 3 vector followed by a modified vaccinia Ankara vector (ChAd3-MVA) expressing HCV nonstructural proteins. In this phase 1–2 study, 548 HCV-uninfected adults with recent use of injected drugs were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive the vaccine regimen or placebo. The primary outcome was chronic HCV infection as documented by viremia 6 months after infection.

Incident HCV infection occurred in 37 vaccine recipients and 38 placebo recipients. There was no demonstrable vaccine efficacy against chr…

Reviewing Author

Hana M. El Sahly, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Hana M. El Sahly, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

The Search for an Effective Hepatitis C Virus Vaccine Continues

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Reviewing Author