ClinicalTrials.gg
WithdrawnNCT07208760Updated Apr 9, 2026

L9LS-R21 Interaction

A Phase 2 interventional study of Single dose of 1800 mg L9LS SC (12mL) and Placebo 12 mL SC in Malaria, sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Withdrawn at 1 site in Mali. Open to participants aged 5 Months to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-09.

Sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Prevention

Why this study was withdrawn
After careful review of R21 interaction data that recently became available from a previous L9LS infant study, the study team has made the decision to not move forward with this protocol.
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
5 Months to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 2 parts evaluating the effect of 1-time administration of the monoclonal antibody (MAb) L9LS to healthy Malian participants on the immunogenicity of subsequent administration of the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine. L9LS will be administered subcutaneously (SC) for adults and infants. The study will assess how the timing of L9LS administration impacts immunogenicity following subsequent intramuscular (IM) R21/Matrix-M™ vaccination. Twenty-four adult participants and 333 infant participants will be enrolled.

Read the detailed description

In Part 1, 24 adult participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive 1800 mg of L9LS or normal saline placebo at enrollment, followed by the R21/Matrix-M™ 3-dose initial vaccine series starting on day 7. Adult participants will be followed at study visits 7 days after L9LS administration and 7 days after each R21/Matrix-M™ vaccination. If no significant safety concerns arise through 7 days after administration of the first R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine (day 14) per an interim safety review, the study will proceed to Part 2. There will also be study visits 28 and 84 days following the last R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine to assess immune responses.

In Part 2, 333 infant participants will be randomized into 1 of 3 cohorts, each with an L9LS arm and a placebo arm (2:1). The individual cohorts will differ in the timing of the R21/Matrix-M™ 3-dose initial vaccine series (7 days, 2 months, and 4 months between L9LS and first R21/Matrix-M™ respectively). Infant participants will be followed at study visits 7 days after L9LS administration and 7 days after each R21/Matrix-M™ vaccination, after which they will continue to be followed every 28 days through the fourth (booster) dose of the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine. There will also be study visits 28 and 84 days following the last R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine to assess immune responses. Primary study assessments include medical history, physical examination, and blood collection to assess antibody responses to the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine, L9LS pharmacokinetics (PK), anti-drug antibody (ADA) assessments, identification of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) infection by microscopic examination of thick blood smears and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and other research laboratory evaluations.

02

Conditions studied

  • Malaria

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03

In context

Malaria

1,184 studies on the registry are indexed under Malaria; 79 are open to participants now.

Browse Malaria studies →

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is the lead sponsor of 2,446 studies on the registry; 179 are open to participants now.

Of its 405 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 302 (75%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
5 Months 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

Part 1: Healthy Adults

Individuals must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for study participation:

  1. Male aged ≥18 and ≤50 years weighing ≥50.0 and ≤100.0 kg or female aged ≥18 and ≤50 years weighing ≥45.0 and ≤90.0 kg.
  2. Able to provide proof of identity to the satisfaction of the study clinician completing the enrollment process.
  3. In good general health and without medical history.
  4. Able to provide .
  5. Willing to have blood samples and data stored for future research.
  6. Resides in or near Sotuba, Mali, and available for the duration of the study.
  7. Females of must be willing to use reliable from 21 days prior to study day 0 through the final study visit as described below.

    1. Reliable methods of birth control include 1 of the following: confirmed pharmacologic contraceptives via parenteral delivery or intrauterine or implantable device.
    2. Nonchildbearing women will be required to report date of last menstrual period, history of surgical sterility (i.e., tubal ligation, hysterectomy) or premature ovarian insufficiency, and will have serum pregnancy test performed per protocol.

Part 2: Healthy Infants

Individuals must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for study participation:

  1. Aged ≥5 and ≤12 months at enrollment.
  2. Born at ≥37 weeks gestation (at term).
  3. Parent and/or guardian able to provide proof of identity to the satisfaction of the study clinician completing the enrollment process.
  4. In good general health and without clinically significant medical history.
  5. Parent and/or guardian able to provide informed consent.
  6. Willing to have blood samples and data stored for future research.
  7. Resides in or near Sotuba, Mali, and available for the duration of the study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Part 1: Healthy Adults

Individuals meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded from study participation:

  1. Pregnancy, as determined by a positive urine or serum beta-human choriogonadotropin test (if female).
  2. Currently breastfeeding.
  3. Behavioral, cognitive, or psychiatric disease that in the opinion of the investigator affects the ability of the prospective participant to understand and comply with the study protocol.
  4. Study comprehension examination score of \<80% correct or per investigator discretion.
  5. , WBC, absolute neutrophil, or count outside the local laboratory-defined limits of normal. Individuals may be included at the investigator's discretion for "not " values.
  6. or creatinine (Cr) level above the local laboratory-defined . Individuals may be included at the investigator's discretion for "not clinically significant" values.
  7. Infection with virus.
  8. Known or documented sickle cell disease by history. (Note: Known sickle cell trait is NOT exclusionary.)
  9. Evidence of clinically significant neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, endocrine, rheumatologic, , hematological, oncologic, or renal disease by history, physical examination, and/or laboratory studies.
  10. Receipt of any product within the past 30 days.
  11. Participation or planned participation in an interventional trial with an investigational product until the last required protocol visit. (Note: Past, current, or planned participation in observational studies is NOT exclusionary; participation in the placebo arm of the Mali adult CIS43LS MAb trial [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04329104] or L9LS MAb trials [NCT05816330] is NOT exclusionary.)
  12. Medical, occupational, or family problems as a result of alcohol or illicit drug use during the past 12 months.
  13. History of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, including history of generalized urticaria and angioedema from prior allergic reactions.
  14. to the active substances or to any of the included in the vaccines.
  15. Hypersensitivity to vaccines.
  16. Severe asthma (defined as asthma that is unstable or required emergent care, urgent care, hospitalization, or intubation during the past 2 years, or that has required the use of oral or parenteral at any time during the past 2 years).
  17. Pre-existing autoimmune or antibody-mediated diseases including but not limited to: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, or autoimmune thrombocytopenia.
  18. Salivary gland disorder diagnosed by a doctor (e.g., parotitis, sialadenitis, sialolithiasis, salivary gland tumors).
  19. Known immunodeficiency syndrome.
  20. Known asplenia or functional asplenia.
  21. Use of chronic (≥14 days) oral or IV corticosteroids (excluding topical or nasal) at doses (i.e., prednisone >10 mg/day) or immunosuppressive drugs within 30 days of day 0.
  22. Receipt of a within the past 4 weeks or a killed vaccine within the past 2 weeks prior to study agent administration.
  23. Receipt of immunoglobulins and/or blood products within the past 6 months.
  24. Previous receipt of an investigational malaria vaccine or MAb in the last 5 years.
  25. Other condition(s) that, in the opinion of the investigator, would jeopardize the safety or rights of an individual participating in the trial, interfere with the evaluation of the study objectives, or render the participant unable to comply with the protocol.

Part 2: Healthy Infants

Individuals meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded from study participation:

  1. Body weight \<5.5 kg.
  2. Behavioral, cognitive, or psychiatric disease in the parent and/or guardian that in the opinion of the investigator affects the ability of the parent and/or guardian to understand and comply with the study protocol.
  3. Any fever (≥ 37.5°C, regardless of route) or acute illness within 7 days prior to randomization.
  4. Clinically significant congenital anomaly or documented or suspected serious medical illness (e.g., history of epilepsy), serious congenital anomaly, or immediate life-threatening condition in the infant that may interfere with the ability to complete study requirements, as judged by the examining clinician.
  5. Prior history of a suspected or actual acute medically life-threatening event.
  6. Receipt of any blood products, monoclonal or polyclonal antibody/immunoglobulin (e.g., hepatitis B immune globulin, IV immunoglobulin), or anticipated use during the study.
  7. Any suspected or actual life-threatening acute or chronic illnesses known in the mother during her pregnancy.
  8. Parent or guardian study comprehension examination score of \<80% correct or per investigator discretion.
  9. Hemoglobin, WBC, absolute neutrophil, or platelet count outside the local laboratory-defined limits of normal. Individuals may be included at the investigator's discretion for "not clinically significant" values.
  10. ALT or Cr level above the local laboratory-defined upper limit of normal. Individuals may be included at the investigator's discretion for "not clinically significant" values.
  11. Mother and/or infant infected with HIV.
  12. Sickle cell disease by testing. (Note: Known sickle cell trait is NOT exclusionary.)
  13. Evidence of clinically significant neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, endocrine, rheumatologic, autoimmune, hematological, oncologic, or renal disease by history, physical examination, and/or laboratory studies.
  14. Receipt of any investigational product within the past 30 days.
  15. Participation or planned participation in an interventional trial with an investigational product until the last required protocol visit. (Note: Past, current, or planned participation in observational studies is NOT exclusionary.)
  16. History of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, including history of generalized urticaria and angioedema from prior allergic reactions.
  17. Hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients included in the vaccines.
  18. Hypersensitivity to hepatitis B vaccines.
  19. Salivary gland disorder diagnosed by a doctor (e.g., parotitis, sialadenitis, sialolithiasis, salivary gland tumors).
  20. Pre-existing autoimmune or antibody-mediated diseases including but not limited to systemic lupus erythematosus or autoimmune thrombocytopenia.
  21. Known immunodeficiency syndrome.
  22. Known asplenia or functional asplenia.
  23. Use of chronic (≥14 days) oral or IV corticosteroids (excluding topical or nasal) at immunosuppressive doses (i.e., prednisone >10 mg/day) or immunosuppressive drugs within 30 days of day 0.
  24. Previous receipt of the R21/Matrix-MTM or RTS,S/AS01 vaccine.
  25. Receipt of a live or killed vaccine within the past 1 week prior to study agent administration.
  26. Previous receipt of an investigational malaria vaccine or MAb.
  27. Previous receipt of L9LS MAb by the mother.
  28. Clinical signs of malnutrition.
  29. Other condition(s) that, in the opinion of the investigator, might jeopardize the safety or rights of an individual participating in the trial, interfere with the evaluation of the study objectives, or render the participant unable to comply with the protocol.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(17)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

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.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

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.

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.

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.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Excipients

The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

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.

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.

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.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Sequential assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    L9LS in Healthy Malian Adult with R21/Matrix-M™ starting 7 days after

    L9LS with R21/Matrix-M™ series starting 7 days after.

    Drug: Single dose of 1800 mg L9LS SC (12mL)

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo in Healthy Malian Adult with R21/Matrix-M™ starting 7 days after

    Placebo with R21/Matrix-M™ series starting 7 days after.

    Other: Placebo 12 mL SC

  • Experimental
    L9LS in Healthy Malian Infant with R21/Matrix-M™ starting 7 days after

    L9LS with R21/Matrix-M™ series starting 7 days after.

    Drug: Single dose of 225 mg L9LS SC (1.5mL)

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo in Healthy Malian Infant with R21/Matrix-M™ starting 7 days after

    Placebo with R21/Matrix-M™ series starting 7 days after.

    Other: Placebo 1.5 mL SC

  • Experimental
    L9LS in Healthy Malian Infant with R21/Matrix-M™ starting 56 days after

    L9LS with R21/Matrix-M™ series starting 56 days after.

    Drug: Single dose of 225 mg L9LS SC (1.5mL)

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo in Healthy Malian Infant with R21/Matrix-M™ starting 56 days after

    Placebo with R21/Matrix-M™ series starting 56 days after.

    Other: Placebo 1.5 mL SC

  • Experimental
    L9LS in Healthy Malian Infant with R21/Matrix-M™ starting 112 days after

    L9LS with R21/Matrix-M™ series starting 112 days after.

    Drug: Single dose of 225 mg L9LS SC (1.5mL)

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo in Healthy Malian Infant with R21/Matrix-M™ starting 112 days after

    Placebo with R21/Matrix-M™ series starting 112 days after.

    Other: Placebo 1.5 mL SC

Interventions

  • DrugSingle dose of 1800 mg L9LS SC (12mL)

    A human monoclonal antibody to protect against Plasmodium falciparum.

  • OtherPlacebo 12 mL SC

    Normal saline.

  • DrugSingle dose of 225 mg L9LS SC (1.5mL)

    A human monoclonal antibody to protect against Plasmodium falciparum.

  • OtherPlacebo 1.5 mL SC

    Normal saline.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Part 1: Incidence and severity of hypersensitivity reactions

    Time frame: Occurring within 7 days after the administration of the first dose of the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine.

  2. Part 2: Total IgG anti-NANP antibody titers

    Measured by ECLIA, using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) LLC-based automation platform

    Time frame: 28 days after the third R21/Matrix-M™ vaccination

Secondary outcomes

  1. Part 1a: Incidence and severity of local and systemic AEs

    Time frame: Occurring within 7 days after the administration of L9LS and within 7 days after administration of each dose of R21/Matrix-M™.

  2. Part 1b: Incidence and severity of laboratory abnormalities

    Time frame: Occurring within 7 days after the administration of study agent.

  3. Part 2a: Incidence and severity of local and systemic AEs

    Time frame: Occurring within 7 days after the administration of L9LS and within 7 days after administration of each dose of R21/Matrix-M™.

  4. Part 2b: Incidence and severity of laboratory abnormalities

    Time frame: Occurring within 7 days after the administration of study agent.

  5. Part 2c: Incidence and severity of hypersensitivity reactions

    Time frame: Occurring within 7 days after the administration of each dose of R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine.

  6. Part 2d: Total IgG anti-NANP antibody titers

    Measured by ECLIA, using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) LLC-based automation platform

    Time frame: 84 days after the third R21/Matrix-M™ vaccination.

  7. Part 2e: Detection of Anti-Drug Antibodies (ADAs) to L9LS

    Measured by 3-tier MSD assay

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years.

  8. Part 2f: Serum concentrations of L9LS

    Measured with an L9LS anti-idiotype antibody and a MSD LLC-based automation platform

    Time frame: Up to 18 months.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Sotuba Malaria Research and Training Center (MRTC)
    Sotouba, Mali
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Start is estimated for Mar 2026; primary completion for Mar 2028, 24 months later.

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

Registered
Sep 17, 2025
First posted
Oct 6, 2025
StartEst.
Mar 2026
Primary completionEst.
Mar 2028
CompletionEst.
Mar 2029
Last update
Apr 9, 2026
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 Apr 9, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07208760
Collaborators
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Malaria Research and Training Center, Bamako, Mali, Faculté de Médecine Pharmacie d'Odontostomatologie (FMOS), University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), University of Washington, Indiana University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Oct 6, 2025
Start date
Mar 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Mar 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 2029 (estimated)
Last update
Apr 9, 2026

Study contacts

Bickey H Chang, MD, MHA
principal investigator · LIG/NIAID/NIH
Kassoum Kayentao, MD, MPH, PhD
principal investigator · MRTC/FMOS/USTTB

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 withdrawn, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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