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CompletedNCT05592223Updated Dec 16, 2025Results posted

Phase I Open Label BCG Clinical Trial Assessing TB Drugs and Vaccines

A Phase 1 interventional study of BCG Vaccine USP and Isoniazid in Tuberculosis, sponsored by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-16.

Sponsored by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · Phase 1, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
20
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 45 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of the study is to develop a BCG challenge model for use in short term Phase I human trials capable of assessing the ability of TB drugs and/or vaccine-induced immune responses to impact in vivo mycobacterial replication as a method of assessing antimycobacterial agents and/or protective immunity elicited by vaccines or host-directed therapy. The trial will illuminate the nature of local and systemic immune responses to BCG and treatment response, as well as demonstrate our local capacity for newer, more innovative study designs.

Read the detailed description

This is phase 1, open-label, randomized clinical protocol to develop a human challenge model using the licensed and available BCG VACCINE USP (TICE® strain) with and without INH or Rifampin (RIF). Part 1 will involve 10 participants who will be screened and consented, given an intradermal injection of BCG; five of these participants will receive oral INH for 3 days. Part 2 will involve 10 participants who will be screened and consented, given an intradermal injection of BCG; five of these participants will receive oral RIF for 7 days. All participants will undergo physical exams, clinical evaluations, blood draws, urine collections, skin biopsies, and pregnancy tests. This study will measure the rate of replication by utilizing qPCR and in vitro culture, systemic innate and adaptive immune responses, including humoral and cellular assay analyses and the evaluation and PPD/IGRA status.

02

Conditions studied

  • Tuberculosis

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03

In context

Tuberculosis

1,417 studies on the registry are indexed under Tuberculosis; 208 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 20 is below the median of 150 across 952 interventional studies indexed under Tuberculosis.

Browse Tuberculosis studies →

Lead sponsor

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is the lead sponsor of 537 studies on the registry; 79 are open to participants now.

Of its 57 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 45 (79%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 45 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Provide written informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures,
  • Are males or non-pregnant females between the ages of 18 and 45 years, inclusive,
  • Women of childbearing potential in sexual relationships with men must use an acceptable method of preventing conception from 30 days prior to 3 months after Tice® BCG administration. Not sterilized via tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy, hysterectomy or successful device placement (permanent, non-surgical, non-hormonal sterilization) with documented radiological confirmation test at least 90 days after the procedure, and still menstruating or \< 1 year of the last menses if menopausal). Includes but is not limited to, sexual abstinence, monogamous relationship with vasectomized partner who has been vasectomized for 6 months or more prior to the subject receiving Tice® BCG, barrier methods such as condoms or diaphragms with spermicide or foam, effective intrauterine devices, NuvaRing ®, and licensed hormonal methods such as implants, injectables or oral contraceptives ("the pill").
  • For women of childbearing potential, negative serum pregnancy test at screening and negative urine pregnancy test within 24 hours prior to enrollment and Tice® BCG administration,
  • Are in good health, as judged by the investigator and determined by vital signs (oral temperature, pulse, and blood pressure), medical history and physical examination,
  • Have a negative HIV-1 ELISA test,
  • Have negative serology tests for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus antibody,
  • Have a negative QuantiFERON-TB Gold test,
  • Negative is defined as Nil response \< 0.8 IU/ml and TB Antigen response minus Nil response \<0.35 IU/mL or TB Antigen response minus Nil response > 0.35 IU/mL and \< 25% of Nil response and Mitogen response minus Nil response > 0.5 IU/ml,
  • Have a urine dipstick for protein less than 1,
  • Have a urine dipstick negative for glucose,
  • Ability to understand and complete all study visits as required per protocol and be reachable by telephone.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have a history of suspected, confirmed, treated or have other evidence of active tuberculosis,
  • Symptoms may include recurrent fever, fatigue, night sweats, weight loss, oral ulcers, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or bleeding,
  • Have any systemic symptoms* within 72 hours before Tice® BCG administration or signs of lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, or pulmonary disease by physical examination on day of Tice® BCG administration. Includes fever, chills, malaise, fatigue, headache, night sweats, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rhinorrhea, cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
  • Have history of any significant acute or chronic medical conditions* or need for chronic medications that, in the opinion of the investigator, will interfere with immunity or affect safety. Includes, but is not limited to, disorders of the liver, kidney, lung, heart, or nervous system, or other metabolic or autoimmune/inflammatory conditions. Have any history of excessive scarring or keloid formation.
  • Have household contact or occupation involving significant contact with someone who is immunocompromised. Includes persons with HIV, AIDs, or active cancer; infants (children \< 1 year); pregnant women; or persons who are immunosuppressed for approximately 6 weeks (during the time of active ID lesion drainage).
  • Have a history of epilepsy (does not include febrile seizures as a child),
  • Have a pacemaker, prosthetic valve, or implantable cardiac devices,
  • Have a history of bleeding disorder,
  • Have a known allergy to any Tice® BCG components (glycerin, asparagine, citric acid, potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron ammonium citrate, and lactose),
  • Received blood products or immunoglobulin within 6 months prior to Tice® BCG administration,
  • Received immunotherapy within one year prior to Tice® BCG administration,
  • Received or plan to receive live attenuated vaccines 4 weeks before or after Tice® BCG administration,
  • Received or plan to receive inactivated or killed vaccines 2 weeks before or after Tice® BCG administration,
  • Plans to enroll in another clinical trial* that could interfere with safety assessment of the investigational product at any time during the study period. Includes trials that have a study intervention such as a drug, biologic, or device.
  • Received an experimental agent* within 30 days prior to Tice® BCG administration or planned receipt of an experimental agent within 90 days after Tice® BCG administration, Includes vaccine, drug, biologic, device, blood product, or medication.
  • Have a history of use of a systemic antibiotic within 14 days prior to Tice® BCG administration or planned use of a systemic antibiotic for 3 months after Tice® BCG administration,
  • Have any medical, psychiatric, occupational, or behavioral problems that make it unlikely for the subject to comply with the protocol as determined by the investigator,
  • Are health care providers at the highest risk of acquiring MTB infection, such as pulmonologists performing bronchoscopies on TB patients,
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed at any given time throughout the study,
  • Have long term use of high dose oral or parenteral glucocorticoids, or high-dose inhaled steroids. Defined as taken for 2 weeks or more in total at any time during the past 2 months. High dose defined as prednisone ≥ 20 mg total daily dose, or equivalent dose of other glucocorticoids. High dose defined as > 800 mcg/day of beclomethasone dipropionate or equivalent. If short term corticosteroids are given, then the subject should not receive Tice® BCG or have blood collected for immunogenicity studies within 1 week of steroid administration.
  • Have immunosuppression or are taking systemic immunosuppressants as a result of an underlying illness or treatment,
  • Use of anticancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy (cytotoxic) within 36 months prior to Tice® BCG administration,
  • Any active neoplastic disease,
  • Have a pulse rate less than 50 bpm or greater than 100 bpm,
  • Have a systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg or greater than 140 mm Hg,
  • Have a diastolic blood pressure less than 50 mm Hg or greater than 90 mmHg,
  • Have a WBC less than 4.0x103/uL or greater than 10.5x103/uL,
  • Have hemoglobin less than 11.5x103/uL (female) or less than 12.5x103/uL (male),
  • Have a platelet count less than 140x103/UL,
  • Have a creatinine greater than 1.30 mg/dL,
  • Have an ALT (SGPT) greater than 40 IU/L (female) or greater than 55 IU/L (male),
  • Have known HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C infection,
  • Have a history of alcohol or drug abuse in the last 5 years,
  • Have had a positive PPD skin test in the past or received BCG vaccine (BCG vaccination history will be determined by self-report, country of birth, and/or evidence of BCG scar),
  • Have a BMI >35,
  • PPD skin test within 2 months prior to Tice® BCG administration or planned receipt during the study other than from participation in this study,
  • Oral temperature ≥ 100.4°F (≥ 38.0°C) or other symptoms of an acute illness within 3 days before Tice® BCG administration. (Subject may be rescheduled),
  • Any medical disease or condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, is a contraindication to study participation. Includes medical disease or condition that would place the subject at an unacceptable risk of injury, render them unable to meet the requirements of the protocol, or may interfere with the evaluation of responses or their successful completion of the study.
  • Have any condition that would, in the opinion of the site investigator, place the subject at an unacceptable risk of injury or render the subject unable to meet the requirements of the protocol or compromise the interpretation of data or the scientific integrity of the protocol.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
20 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    BCG Challenged-Isoniazid Treated

    Will receive INH in the dose of 300 mg for three days post BCG injection.

    Drug: BCG Vaccine USP · Drug: Isoniazid

  • Placebo comparator
    BCG Challenged-Isoniazid Untreated

    Will not receive any INH or RIF dose.

    Drug: BCG Vaccine USP

  • Active comparator
    BCG Challenged-RIF Treated

    Will receive RIF in the dose of 600 mg for seven days post BCG injection.

    Drug: BCG Vaccine USP · Drug: Rifampin

Interventions

  • DrugBCG Vaccine USP

    2x10\^6 cfu Tice® BCG (ID)

    Also known as: BCG

  • DrugIsoniazid

    INH in the dose of 300 mg for three days post BCG injection.

    Also known as: INH

  • DrugRifampin

    RIF in the dose of 600 mg for seven days post BCG injection.

    Also known as: RIF

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Assess Viable BCG Bacteria From Intradermal Challenge Site From Culture.

    Through microbial culture, quantify in colony forming units (CFU) BCG bacterial burden in skin biopsies from challenge sites. Outcome measure if the mean cfu from day 15 biopsy specimens.

    Time frame: 15 days after BCG dosing

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Rate of AE's/SAE's

    Mild (grade 1): events do not require treatment and do not interfere with the patient's daily activities Moderate (grade 2): events result in a low level of inconvenience or concern with the therapeutic measures. Moderate events may cause some interference with functioning and daily activities Severe (grade 3): events interrupt a patient's usual daily activity and may require systemic drug therapy or other treatment. Severe events are usually incapacitating.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 16 weeks.

  2. Assess Quantitative Bacterial 16S Ribosomal DNA PCR

    Assessing the number of real time BCG genomes present in skin biopsies from challenge sites.

    Time frame: Day 15 post BCG dosing

  3. Quantification by AUC of IgG in the Blood After BCG Immunization and INH or RIF Dosing.

    To assess the IgG immune response after INH or RIF dosing. The AUC we report is not a integration of concentration over time. Instead, AUC reported here quantifies the overall antibody binding signal across a titration series from a single time point (Day 144). In this assay, each sample from a single visit is measured at multiple dilutions, and the signal is expressed AUC in unit MFI × log₁₀(dilution). Plotting MFI as a function of dilution generates a curve that reflects how strongly and consistently the antibodies bind over the dilution range. The AUC therefore summarizes the entire binding titration curve - capturing both signal intensity and how long the signal is maintained across dilutions.

    Time frame: Day 144

07

Results

Posted Mar 25, 2025

Participant flow

Cohort A recruitment period 01 NOV 2022-01 DEC 2022 Cohort B recruitment period 01 JUL 2023-01 AUG 2023

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneBCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin Untreated
Started5555
Completed5555
Not completed0000

Outcome measures

PrimaryAssess Viable BCG Bacteria From Intradermal Challenge Site From Culture.

Through microbial culture, quantify in colony forming units (CFU) BCG bacterial burden in skin biopsies from challenge sites. Outcome measure if the mean cfu from day 15 biopsy specimens.

Time frame:
15 days after BCG dosing
Reported as:
Mean · CFU
Assess Viable BCG Bacteria From Intradermal Challenge Site From Culture.
CFUBCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin Untreated
Assess Viable BCG Bacteria From Intradermal Challenge Site From Culture.20,440 ± 40,51680 ± 925 ± 1210,673 ± 12,646
SecondaryThe Rate of AE's/SAE's

Mild (grade 1): events do not require treatment and do not interfere with the patient's daily activities Moderate (grade 2): events result in a low level of inconvenience or concern with the therapeutic measures. Moderate events may cause some interference with functioning and daily activities Severe (grade 3): events interrupt a patient's usual daily activity and may require systemic drug therapy or other treatment. Severe events are usually incapacitating.

Time frame:
Through study completion, an average of 16 weeks.
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
The Rate of AE's/SAE's
ParticipantsBCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin Untreated
All AEs — Number experiencing any Adverse Event5445
All AEs — Number experiencing no Adverse Events0110
Grade 3 AEs — Number experiencing any Adverse Event0100
Grade 3 AEs — Number experiencing no Adverse Events5455
SecondaryAssess Quantitative Bacterial 16S Ribosomal DNA PCR

Assessing the number of real time BCG genomes present in skin biopsies from challenge sites.

Time frame:
Day 15 post BCG dosing
Reported as:
Mean · copies
Assess Quantitative Bacterial 16S Ribosomal DNA PCR
copiesBCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin Untreated
Assess Quantitative Bacterial 16S Ribosomal DNA PCR8239.4 ± 15243.997.7 ± 115.95.34 ± 11.910,673.4 ± 12645.7
SecondaryQuantification by AUC of IgG in the Blood After BCG Immunization and INH or RIF Dosing.

To assess the IgG immune response after INH or RIF dosing. The AUC we report is not a integration of concentration over time. Instead, AUC reported here quantifies the overall antibody binding signal across a titration series from a single time point (Day 144). In this assay, each sample from a single visit is measured at multiple dilutions, and the signal is expressed AUC in unit MFI × log₁₀(dilution). Plotting MFI as a function of dilution generates a curve that reflects how strongly and consistently the antibodies bind over the dilution range. The AUC therefore summarizes the entire binding titration curve - capturing both signal intensity and how long the signal is maintained across dilutions.

Time frame:
Day 144
Reported as:
Median · MFI × log₁₀ dilution
Quantification by AUC of IgG in the Blood After BCG Immunization and INH or RIF Dosing.
MFI × log₁₀ dilutionBCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin Untreated
Quantification by AUC of IgG in the Blood After BCG Immunization and INH or RIF Dosing.319.4 (276.3 to 469.1)822.5 (192.0 to 946.3)2888.8 (1941.878 to 4600.566)1951.5 (888.232 to 3436.136)

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse Events were collected through day 114 after vaccination. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
BCG Challenged-Isoniazid Treated0/5 (0%)0/5 (0%)5/5 (100%)
BCG Challenged-Isoniazid Untreated0/5 (0%)1/5 (20%)5/5 (100%)
BCG Challenged-RIF Treated0/5 (0%)0/5 (0%)5/5 (100%)
BCG Challenged-Rifampin Untreated0/5 (0%)0/5 (0%)5/5 (100%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventBCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin Untreated
Severe Back PainMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders0/51/50/50/5
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventBCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin Untreated
Injection site erythemaSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders5/55/55/55/5
Injection Site indurationSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders5/55/55/55/5
BCG Site AbscessSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders0/50/50/51/5

Baseline characteristics

Age, Customized
Age, Customized(years)BCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin UntreatedTotal
Median Age (Range)28 (20 to 36)40 (29 to 43)31 (21 to 41)36 (24 to 45)35 (20 to 45)
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex/Gender, Customized(Participants)BCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin UntreatedTotal
Male332311
Female21328
Intersex01001
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)BCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin UntreatedTotal
Hispanic or Latino10214
Not Hispanic or Latino453416
Unknown or Not Reported00000
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)BCG Challenged-Isoniazid TreatedBCG Challenged-Isoniazid UntreatedBCG Challenged-RIF TreatedBCG Challenged-Rifampin UntreatedTotal
American Indian or Alaska Native00000
Asian00101
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander00000
Black or African American01001
White440412
More than one race10203
Unknown or Not Reported00213
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
    Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
09

References and documents

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · May 20, 2022
  • Informed consent form · Nov 10, 2022

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Sharing de-identified AE's/SAE's from all individual participants with Merck \& Co during the trial.

Supporting information: Study protocol, Icf

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 16, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05592223
Lead sponsor
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Collaborators
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Responsible party
James Kublin (Principal Staff, Scientist Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutch, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 24, 2022
Start date
Dec 6, 2022
Primary completion
Aug 23, 2023
Completion
Dec 1, 2023
Results posted
Mar 25, 2025
Last update
Dec 16, 2025

Study contacts

James Kublin, MD, MPH
principal investigator · Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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