A Randomized Clinical Trial Investigating the Safety, Reactogenicity, and Immunogenicity After Immunization With an mRNA-based Mpox Vaccine Candidate in Africa

Last updated: March 2, 2026
Sponsor: BioNTech SE
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Smallpox

Treatment

Placebo

BNT166a

Clinical Study ID

NCT07379580
BNT166-02
  • Ages 18-64
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study which aims to assess the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity after one and two doses of BNT166a or placebo in healthy participants.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Key Inclusion Criteria (applicable to all participants unless otherwise specified):

  • Are male or female individuals ≥18 years of age at the time of giving informed consent:

  • Cohort 1: ≥18 to ≤45 years of age

  • Cohort 2: ≥18 to ≤64 years of age

  • Cohort 1: Participants must be Orthopoxvirus-naïve (have no history of smallpox or mpox vaccination or mpox infection).

  • Cohort 2: Participants must be Orthopoxvirus-experienced (have evidence of mpox or smallpox vaccination or mpox infection at least 2 years prior to consent).

Key Exclusion Criteria (applicable to all participants unless otherwise specified):

  • Have had recent exposure to mpox (defined as close contact with a probable or confirmed case of mpox within the past 28 days, or have evidence of mpox infection or mpox vaccination within 2 years prior to consent).

  • Have a contraindication, warning and/or precaution to vaccination with a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine as specified in the Summary of Product Characteristics for BNT162b2 (COMIRNATY United States Prescribing Information/European Union Summary of Product Characteristics) and BNT166 Investigator Brochure.

  • Have a history of allergies, hypersensitivities, or intolerance to the study treatments including any excipients thereof.

  • Have a current or history of cardiovascular diseases, e.g., myocarditis, pericarditis, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or clinically significant arrhythmias.

  • Have any known bleeding diathesis or condition associated with prolonged bleeding that would, in the opinion of the investigator, contraindicate intramuscular injection.

  • Have a body mass index ≤18.5 kg/m^2 or ≥35 kg/m^2.

NOTE: Other protocol defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria apply.

Study Design

Total Participants: 310
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Placebo
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
February 20, 2026
Estimated Completion Date:
June 30, 2027

Study Description

This study will include the following cohorts:

  • Cohort 1: healthy adults aged 18 to 45 years inclusive who are Orthopoxvirus-naïve.

  • Cohort 2: healthy adults aged 18 to 64 years inclusive who are Orthopoxvirus-experienced.

All participants will receive two doses of BNT166a or placebo at least 28 days apart.

The planned study duration per participant is ~14 months.

Connect with a study center

  • Institute National de Recherche Biomedicale

    Kinshasa, 5345
    Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Site Not Available

  • University of Kinshasa UNIKIN

    Kinshasa, 01306
    Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Site Not Available

  • Institute National de Recherche Biomedicale

    Kinshasa 2314302, 5345
    Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Site Not Available

  • University of Kinshasa UNIKIN

    Kinshasa 2314302, 01306
    Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Site Not Available

  • Desmond Tutu Health Foundation Masiphumelele Clinic

    Cape Town, 7975
    South Africa

    Site Not Available

  • TASK Applied Science

    Cape Town, 7405
    South Africa

    Site Not Available

  • TREAD Research Pty Ltd

    Cape Town, 7530
    South Africa

    Active - Recruiting

  • Desmond Tutu Health Foundation Masiphumelele Clinic

    Cape Town 3369157, 7975
    South Africa

    Site Not Available

  • TASK Applied Science

    Cape Town 3369157, 7405
    South Africa

    Site Not Available

  • TREAD Research Pty Ltd

    Cape Town 3369157, 7530
    South Africa

    Site Not Available

  • Perinatal HIV Research Unit

    Johannesburg, 1864
    South Africa

    Active - Recruiting

  • Perinatal HIV Research Unit

    Johannesburg 993800, 1864
    South Africa

    Site Not Available

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