ClinicalTrials.gg
Active, not recruitingNCT06549530Updated Nov 24, 2025

Open-label, Multicenter Immunogenicity and Safety Study of MVA-BN Vaccine in Children From 2 Years to Less Than 12 Years of Age Compared to Adults for the Prevention of Smallpox, Mpox, and Related Orthopoxvirus Infections

A Phase 2 interventional study of MVA-BN in Monkeypox (Mpox), sponsored by Bavarian Nordic. Active, not recruiting at 3 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 2 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-11-24.

Sponsored by Bavarian Nordic · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by May 2026, 6 months ago, but the record still lists the study as active, not recruiting.
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
460
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
2 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

All participants will receive 2 vaccinations of the same dose of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Virus (MVA-BN) vaccine 4 weeks apart (standard regimen).

Serum samples for assessment of immune response will be collected at baseline (visit of first vaccination) and at 2 weeks (week 6), 6 months (week 30), and 1 year after the second (last) vaccination.

Read the detailed description

Both treatment groups will start with enrollment after all study approvals are in place. For the pediatric group, enrollment will open for both age subgroups (children 6 to \<12 years of age and 2 to \<6 years of age) at the same time. An independent data monitoring committee (DMC) then will review reactogenicity and adverse events (AEs) from both children and adults after at least 10 children in each age subgroup have received the first vaccination and have completed the visit 1 week later. If the DMC assesses the safety data to be positive, the pediatric age subgroups can be opened to full enrollment.

02

Conditions studied

  • Monkeypox (Mpox)

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03

In context

Mpox, Monkeypox

72 studies on the registry are indexed under Mpox, Monkeypox; 30 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 460 is above the median of 305 across 36 interventional studies indexed under Mpox, Monkeypox.

Browse Mpox, Monkeypox studies →

Lead sponsor

Bavarian Nordic is the lead sponsor of 58 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.

Of its 16 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 12 (75%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
2 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

To be eligible to participate in this trial, an adult individual must meet all the following criteria:

  1. Age 18 to 50 years at screening
  2. Male or female sex
  3. form (ICF) signed and dated by the participant after reading the form and being advised of the risks and benefits of the trial in a language understood by the participant and before performance of any trial-specific procedures
  4. General good health, without medical illness, physical exam findings, or laboratory abnormalities, as determined by the investigator
  5. (BMI) ≥18.5 and ≤35 (calculated as [body weight in kilograms] /[body height in meters] 2)
  6. Agreement by female participants of and male participants who are sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential to use a highly effective method of from at least 30 days prior to administration of the MVA-BN vaccine until 30 days after last vaccination

    1. Medically acceptable methods of contraception that may be used by the participant and/or partner include combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral, intravaginal, transdermal), progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral, injectable, implantable), intrauterine device (IUD), intrauterine hormone releasing system (IUS), bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomy, or abstinence (abstinence only acceptable if refraining from heterosexual intercourse during the entire period of 30 days prior to administration of the MVA-BN vaccine until 30 days after last vaccination).
    2. Female participants or partners are not considered to be of childbearing potential if they are at least 1 year (amenorrhea >12 months and follicle stimulating hormone according to local lab values) at screening.
  7. Willingness to comply with the requirements of the protocol, in the judgment of the investigator

Pediatric Cohort

To be eligible to participate in this trial, a child must meet all the following criteria:

  1. Age ≥2 and \<12 years at screening
  2. Male or female sex
  3. Informed consent form signed and dated by a parent/guardian after reading the form and being advised of the risks and benefits or the trial in a language understood by the parent/guardian and before performance of any trial-specific procedures
  4. Assent form signed and dated, for children required by local regulations

    1. provide consent ≥8 years of age enrolled at sites in Uganda
    2. children deemed by the investigator and/or local regulations to be capable of assent in Democratic Republic of Congo
  5. General good health, without clinically relevant medical illness, physical exam findings, or laboratory abnormalities, as determined by the investigator
  6. Willingness of parent/guardian to comply with the requirements of the protocol, in the judgment of the investigator

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this trial:

  1. For female participants: Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  2. Acute or chronic medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the trial procedures unsafe or would interfere with the evaluation of responses, including but not limited to, neurologic, cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, hematologic, rheumatologic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, renal, , or conditions
  3. History of or active autoimmune disease (vitiligo or thyroid disease requiring thyroid replacement are not exclusions), history of Guillain-Barré syndrome or Reye's syndrome
  4. Known immunodeficiency syndrome or known or suspected impairment of immunologic functions including, but not limited to, liver disease, diabetes mellitus type I, or moderate to severe kidney impairment. (HIV) infection under stable Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (no change within the last three month) and >500/ µL is not considered immunodeficient
  5. Known or reported previous smallpox vaccination, or vaccination with any licensed or poxvirus-based vaccine
  6. History of monkeypox, cowpox, or vaccinia infection
  7. Close contact in the 3 weeks prior to signing the ICF with anyone known to have mpox
  8. History of other than squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer, unless there has been surgical excision at least 6 months prior to screening that is considered to have achieved cure
  9. Clinically significant mental disorder not adequately controlled by medical treatment
  10. Active or recent (within 6 months before screening) chronic alcohol abuse and/or intravenous and/or nasal drug abuse
  11. History of allergic disease or reactions likely to be exacerbated by any component of the vaccine, eg, tris(hydroxymethyl)-amino methane, including history of allergic asthma
  12. Known allergy to aminoglycosides or quinolones
  13. History of anaphylaxis of severe allergic reaction to any vaccine
  14. Receipt of or plans to receive any licensed from 30 days prior to the trial vaccination until 30 days after vaccination
  15. Receipt of or plans to receive any licensed nonlive vaccine from 14 days prior to the trial vaccination until 14 days after last trial vaccination
  16. Use of any investigational or nonregistered agent within 30 days prior to vaccination or plans to receive an investigational agent during the trial
  17. Recent blood donation (including , plasma, and red blood cells) within 4 weeks prior to screening or planned blood donations during the active trial period
  18. Chronic systemic administration (defined as more than 14 days) of >5 mg prednisone (or equivalent)/day or any other immune-modifying drugs from 3 months prior to the first trial vaccination to the visit at the end of the active trial period (use of topical, inhaled, ophthalmic, and nasal is allowed)
  19. History of organ transplantation, whether or not chronic immunosuppressive therapy. is being administered
  20. Administration or planned administration of immunoglobulins and/or any blood products from 3 months prior to the first trial vaccination until the visit at the end of the active trial period (packed red blood cells given for an emergency indication in an otherwise healthy person and not required as ongoing treatment is not exclusionary [eg, packed red blood cells given in an emergency during elective surgery])
  21. History of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, stroke or , uncontrolled high blood pressure, significant arrhythmia with or without corrective/ablative surgery, or any other heart condition under the care of a doctor
  22. Employment with the investigator or study site, with direct involvement in the proposed study or other studies under the direction of that investigator or study site, or relationship to the investigator or study site employee
  23. Relationship with Bavarian Nordic as an employee or employee family member, contractor, agent, or business partner or a financial interest in the outcome of the trial

Pediatric Cohort

A child who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this trial:

  1. Acute or chronic medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the trial procedures unsafe or would interfere with the evaluation of responses, including but not limited to, neurologic, cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, hematologic, rheumatologic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, renal, autoimmune, or immunosuppressive conditions
  2. History of or currently active autoimmune disease (vitiligo or thyroid disease requiring thyroid replacement therapy are not exclusions), history of Guillain-Barré syndrome or Reye's syndrome
  3. Known immunodeficiency syndrome. or known or suspected impairment of immunologic functions including, but not limited to, clinically significant liver disease, diabetes mellitus type I, or moderate to severe kidney impairment. HIV infection under stable HAART (no change within the last three month) and CD4 count >500/ µL is not considered immunodeficient
  4. Known or reported previous smallpox vaccination or vaccination with any licensed or investigational poxvirus-based vaccine
  5. History of monkeypox, cowpox, or vaccina infection
  6. Close contact in the 3 weeks prior to signing the ICF/assent form with anyone known to have mpox
  7. History of malignancy (eg, leukemia or lymphoma)
  8. History of chronic or known neurological disease or deficient development history
  9. History of allergic disease or reactions likely to be exacerbated by any component of the vaccine, including history of allergic asthma
  10. Known allergy to aminoglycosides or quinolones
  11. History of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reaction to any vaccine
  12. Receipt of or plans to receive any licensed live vaccine from 30 days prior to first trial vaccination until 30 days after last trial vaccination
  13. Receipt of or plans to receive any licensed nonlive vaccine from 14 days prior to first trial vaccination until 14 days after last trial vaccination
  14. Use of any investigational or nonregistered agent other than the trial vaccine within 30 days prior to first vaccination or plans to receive an investigational agent during the trial period
  15. Chronic administration (defined as more than 14 days) of systemic high dose immune suppressant drugs (2 mg/kg/day or more of prednisolone or its equivalent or 20 mg/day or more for children who weigh more than 10 kg) from 6 months prior to first trial vaccination to trial conclusion
  16. History of organ transplantation, whether or not chronic immunosuppressive therapy. is being administered
  17. Administration or planned administration of immunoglobulins and/or any blood products from 3 months prior to the first trial vaccination until the visit at the end of the active trial period
  18. Employment of parent/guardian with the investigator or study site, with direct involvement in the proposed study or other studies under the direction of that investigator or study site, or relationship to the investigator or study site employee
  19. Relationship of parent/guardian with Bavarian Nordic as an employee or employee family member, contractor, agent, or business partner or a financial interest in the outcome of the trial
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(16)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Postmenopausal

Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

CD4 count

The number of CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell, in a given amount of blood. It is used to follow how well the immune system is doing in HIV.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

Live vaccines

Vaccines made with a weakened form of the germ, such as measles–mumps–rubella (MMR), chickenpox and yellow fever. They can be risky when the immune system is weakened. Flu injections are not live; the nasal flu spray is.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

TIA (transient ischaemic attack)

A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.

Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
460 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    MVA-BN

    Participants will receive 2 vaccinations at the standard dose of MVA-BN vaccine 4 weeks apart.

    Drug: MVA-BN

Interventions

  • DrugMVA-BN

    All participants will receive 2 vaccinations of the same dose of MVA-BN vaccine 4 weeks apart (standard regimen).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Immunogenicity of 2 doses of MVA BN

    Titer of serum neutralizing antibodies against vaccinia virus as measured by plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) 2 weeks after the second MVA BN vaccination

    Time frame: 2 weeks after the second MVA-BN vaccination

  2. Occurrence of Safety Adverse Events (SAE) & Adverse of Event of Special Interest (AESI) events

    Occurrence of any SAE at any time during the trial period Occurrence of any AESI at any time during the trial period

    Time frame: Day 0 to week 56

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neutralizing antibody response

    To assess neutralizing antibody response to the MVABN standard regimen

    Time frame: From day zero to two weeks after the second vaccination

  2. Neutralizing antibody response durability

    To assess durability of neutralizing antibody response to the MVABN standard regimen

    Time frame: Six months and one year after the second vaccination

07

Study locations

3 sites
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Tshilumba SM, Ruiz PM, Matuvanga TZ, Lemey G, Kimbulu P, Azoum MA, Salloum M, Kasereka G, Mitashi F, Bikioli F, Muteba D, Bisumba A, Van Damme P, Muhindo-Mavoko H, Jordan E, Van Geertruyden JP, Maketa V, Mitashi P, Lariviere Y. Protocol for a phase 3, randomized, double-blind clinical trial evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of the MVA-BN(R) vaccine against mpox in children aged 4 to less than 24 months in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Data to guide future paediatric vaccination strategies. Vaccine. 2026 Jun 29;89:128890. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128890. Online ahead of print. PubMed 42372625 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Started Oct 2024 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for May 2026, 18 months after the start.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jul 31, 2024
First posted
Aug 12, 2024
StartActual
Oct 21, 2024
Primary completionEst.
May 1, 2026
CompletionEst.
May 7, 2026
Last update
Nov 24, 2025
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 24, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06549530
Lead sponsor
Bavarian Nordic
Collaborators
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 12, 2024
Start date
Oct 21, 2024
Primary completion
May 1, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
May 7, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 24, 2025

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Nov 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

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Studies of the drug tested here: MVA-BN smallpox vaccine

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