To determine if the Shingrix vaccine is immunogenic for people living with HIV who are aged 50 and over or have perinatally acquired HIV infection and are aged 18 or over

ISRCTN ISRCTN34192276
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN34192276
IRAS number 1004647
Secondary identifying numbers 3636 - SAGE, IRAS 1004647
Submission date
19/09/2023
Registration date
16/10/2023
Last edited
07/10/2024
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Ongoing
Condition category
Infections and Infestations
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
People living with HIV have a higher risk of developing Herpes Zoster infection (otherwise known as Shingles), than other age-matched populations. Being aged over 60 years is a risk factor for the general population, but people living with HIV are not eligible to be vaccinated against Shingles until they are 70 years old. People living with HIV may have less protection from infections and have more associated illnesses or infections than the general population. Studies involving other vaccines have shown that people living with HIV have a less robust response to vaccination than people without HIV.
HZ/Su (SHINGRIX) is the first vaccine of this type developed to protect against shingles and is licensed for use in the USA and the EU, among other regions. The efficacy against and immune responses to Shingles is durable and suggests that the clinical benefit in older adults is sustained for at least 7 years after vaccination. Data in all age groups and in HIV-infected people for the SHINGRIX vaccine is limited. From July 2021, the vaccine has been approved for use in immunocompromised people aged 18 and over and this includes individuals with HIV infection.
This trial addresses the question of, does the Shingrix vaccine produce an immune response in people living with HIV, who are either 50 years and over or adults who acquired HIV at birth.

Who can participate?
People living with HIV aged 50 years and over and adults aged 18 years and over who acquired HIV at birth

What does the study involve?
Participants will receive an initial dose of the vaccine followed by a second dose 2 months later. Participants will be on the trial for a total of 48 weeks and have blood samples taken at 3-month intervals to check their immune response to the vaccine. Any participant who has suspected Shingles will have a swab taken for analysis and treated clinically.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
This trial is relevant to people living with HIV as the vaccine is not currently within UK treatment guidelines for these people. This trial will inform the guidelines regarding whether it should be included for these two groups. The possible benefits of participating in this trial are that participants will get a shingles vaccine sooner than they would according to UK guidelines. The information collected in this trial may help inform vaccine guidelines for people living with HIV.
There is a potential for some discomfort and bruising at the blood sample site. Staff are all trained and experienced in venepuncture, so this should be minimal. The quantity of blood being taken is above that of standard of care, but participants will be seated on a reclinable clinic couch and refreshments will be made available, to minimize the likelihood of light-headedness or other side effects as a result of blood taking.
There is a potential for discomfort, redness and/or some swelling at the vaccination site. After vaccination, participants will be monitored for 15 minutes to assess any vaccine reactions or side effects and address them accordingly. Delegated research staff will be trained and experienced in giving vaccinations. Adverse events, including any reactions to vaccination, will be monitored throughout the trial. The participant information sheet contains information about potential side effects of the vaccine and participants will have the opportunity to discuss with the trial investigator both before enrolling and throughout the trial. Any individual who has had an allergic reaction to any vaccine in the past will be excluded from the trial.
The number of research visits are above that of standard of care, however, participants will be reimbursed for their time and travel. The window periods for each visit are long enough to arrange a convenient appointment for the participant, limiting inconvenience and burden. Other than four additional visits to what they would routinely experience over the trial period, there are no additional lifestyle changes required.
In addition to the above, all routine clinic support services will be made available to participants throughout the trial, should they require them.
The survey comprises five brief questions regarding the participant's knowledge of shingles and shingles vaccines. No sensitive questions will be asked.

Where is the study run from?
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2023 to December 2025

Who is funding the study?
GlaxoSmithKline (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Julie Fox, Julie.fox@kcl.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Anne-Marie Murtagh
Scientific

16th Floor, Tower Wing
Guy's Hospital
Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RT
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)7703469925
Email QM.KHPCTO@kcl.ac.uk
Dr Julie Fox
Scientific, Principal Investigator

2nd Floor, Southwark Wing
Guy's Hospital
Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RT
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 71887188
Email julie.fox@kcl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designOpen-label single-arm interventional trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typePrevention
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleThe immunogenicity of Shingrix vaccination in people living with HIV at risk of shingles infection (SAGE)
Study acronymSAGE
Study objectivesPrimary objectives:
To determine if the Shingrix vaccine is immunogenic for people living with HIV who are aged 50 years and over OR have perinatally acquired HIV infection and are aged 18 years and over.

Secondary objectives:
1. Detailed characterization of cell-mediated and humoral responses to the candidate vaccine
2. Impact of current CD4, nadir CD4, CD4: CD8 on immunogenicity.
3. Impact of vaccination on HIV reservoirs.
4. To explore BCR and TCR repertoires in response to vaccination.
5. To investigate the sequences of viruses from individuals who develop shingles after vaccination.
6. To assess the safety of the Shingrix vaccine in people living with HIV aged above 50 years and those born with HIV, who are 18 years and over.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 11/12/2023, Wales REC 2 (Health and Care Research Wales, Castlebridge 5, 15-19 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, CF11 9AB, United Kingdom; +44 (0)2922941119; Wales.REC2@wales.nhs.uk), ref: 23/WA/0283
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedHerpes zoster (shingles) in people living with HIV
InterventionThis is an open-label, single-arm, interventional trial involving HZ/Su (SHINGRIX), with a vaccination schedule consisting of two doses of 0.5 ml each: an initial dose followed by a second dose 2 months later.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)Not Applicable
PhasePhase IV
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Shingrix powder and suspension for suspension for injection, Herpes zoster vaccine [varicella-zoster virus]
Primary outcome measure1. Total VZV-specific cell-mediated response measured using ELISPOT in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from baseline to week 12 (4 weeks after the second vaccine dose)
2. Total VZV-specific antibody measured using ELISA in plasma from baseline to week 12 (4 weeks after the second vaccine dose)
Secondary outcome measures1. Evolution of VZV-specific cell-mediated response over the study period, measured at baseline (first vaccine dose), week 4, week 8, week 12, week 24 and week 48 (PBMCs)
2. Evolution of VZV-specific antibody over the study period, measured at baseline (first vaccine dose), week 4, week 8, week 12, week 24 and week 48 (plasma)
3. Occurrence of adverse events of Grade 2 or higher severity (from Electronic Data Capture [EDC]) between screening and week 48
4. Viral sequence of shingles infections (in swabs) measured using nucleic acid magnetic bead extraction and real-time RT-PCR (reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction) to determine the presence of viral genes, viral titres and viral sequence at week 48
Overall study start date15/09/2023
Completion date31/12/2025

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants70
Key inclusion criteria1. Able and willing to comply with the requirements of the protocol
2. Able and willing to provide fully informed consent
3. Male or non-pregnant, non-lactating females
4. People living with HIV >50 years and over OR have perinatally acquired HIV (any CD4) and are aged 18 years and over
5. If female, of child-bearing age, not sterilised and participating in sexual intercourse that could result in pregnancy, using at least one acceptable method of contraception when engaging in sexual activities that can result in pregnancy, beginning at screening through month 4. Acceptable methods of contraception include the following:
5.1. Hormonal contraception
5.2. Male or female condom
5.3. Diaphragm or cervical cap with a spermicide
5.4. Intrauterine device
Key exclusion criteria1. Active herpes zoster disease in past 6 months preceding the first dose of study vaccine
2. If female, planning to get pregnant, currently pregnant (evidence from positive serum or urine pregnancy test), or breastfeeding
3. Used any investigational or non-registered product other than the study vaccine within 30 days preceding the first dose of study vaccine or planned use during the study period
4. Vaccinated within the 12 months preceding the first dose of study vaccine or planned to be vaccinated during the study with a (non-study) vaccine against herpes zoster or varicella zoster virus
5. History of any reaction or hypersensitivity likely to be exacerbated by any vaccine component
6. Received or planned to receive a live vaccine in the period starting 30 days before the first dose of study vaccine and ending 30 days after the last dose of study vaccine or had received or planned to receive a non-replicating vaccine within 8 days before or within 14 days after either dose of study vaccine
7. Acute disease and/or fever at the time of enrolment. Fever is defined as temperature ≥ 37.5°C (99.5°F) on oral, axillary or tympanic setting. The preferred route for recording temperature in this study will be oral. Subjects with a minor illness (such as mild diarrhoea, mild upper respiratory infection) without fever may, be enrolled at the discretion of the investigator.
8. Chronic administration (defined as more than 15 consecutive days) of immunosuppressants or other immune-modifying drugs within six months prior to the first vaccine dose. For corticosteroids, this will mean prednisone < 20 mg/day, or equivalent, is allowed. Inhaled and topical steroids are allowed. Drugs include: chemotherapeutic drugs, immunomodulators and systemic immunosuppressive treatments, oral glucocorticoids >20 mg/day, cyclosporine, methotrexate, interleukins and/or cytokines, immunotherapies (including TNF blockers).
9. Any other clinical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, might pose additional risk to the subject due to participation in the study
10. History of potential immune-mediated disease (pIMD). Note: If the subject has any condition on the list of pIMDs specified in the protocol, they must be excluded unless the aetiology is clearly documented to be non-immune mediated
Date of first enrolment18/03/2024
Date of final enrolment21/10/2024

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

Guys Hospital
Guys Hospital
Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RT
United Kingdom
St Mary's Hospital
Praed St
London
W2 1NY
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

Department of Genitourinary Medicine
Guys Hospital
Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RT
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)7703469925
Email amy.holton@kcl.ac.uk
Website http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/Home.aspx
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00j161312

Funders

Funder type

Industry

GlaxoSmithKline
Government organisation / For-profit companies (industry)
Alternative name(s)
GlaxoSmithKline plc., GSK plc., GSK
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/05/2026
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination plan1. Peer-reviewed scientific journals
2. Conference presentation
3. Submission to regulatory authorities
4. Chief Investigator contact details will be available on a public database, together with the trial results
5. Requests for access to anonymised datasets will be considered by the Chief Investigator on a case-by-case basis.
IPD sharing planThe data-sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol file version 1.1 23/10/2023 20/02/2024 No No

Additional files

ISRCTN34192276 SAGE Protocol V1.1 23Oct2023.pdf

Editorial Notes

07/10/2024: Contact details updated. The recruitment end date was changed from 30/09/2024 to 21/10/2024.
20/08/2024: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall end date was changed from 31/05/2025 to 31/12/2025.
2. The recruitment end date was changed from 01/08/2024 to 30/09/2024.
3. The study participating centre Churchill Hospital was removed.
15/03/2024: The recruitment start date was changed from 01/03/2024 to 18/03/2024.
20/02/2024: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Uploaded protocol (not peer-reviewed) as an additional file.
2. The recruitment start date was changed from 01/02/2024 to 01/03/2024.
23/01/2024: Ethics approval details added.
11/12/2023: The recruitment start date has been changed from 01/12/2023 to 01/02/2024.
14/10/2023: ISRCTN received notification of combined HRA/MHRA approval for this trial on 14/10/2023.
19/09/2023: Study's existence confirmed by the HRA.