An investigational mRNA vaccine for mpox is being tested in UK with enrolment for healthy volunteers beginning in March 2024. The mPower trial, sponsored by Moderna, is delivered by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN). Although cases of mpox have declined in the UK since a peak that began in 2022, the disease continues to affect people in other countries and “remains a public health threat globally”. There is currently only one vaccine licensed for immunisation against mpox in the UK and Europe, with NIHR claiming “more are needed”.
An urgent need
Dr Rajeka Lazarus, National Co-ordinating Investigator for the study, emphasised that “mpox is a global public health threat” that “urgently” demands “more vaccines”.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we were overwhelmed with the generosity of volunteers who came forward to take part in a number of vaccine trials. Without them, the advances we’ve seen would not have been possible. It would be fantastic to see the same support for mpox research.”
Therefore, researchers from University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust are hoping to recruit another 175 volunteers, looking for people who:
- Are between 18 and 49 years old
- Are in good medical health
- Have not been previously vaccinated for mpox or smallpox
- Have not had a suspected or confirmed mpox infection
Partnership with Moderna
The mPower Trial is part of the Moderna-UK Strategic Partnership that brings mRNA vaccine manufacturing to the UK and helps the country build resilience to future health emergencies. The 10-year partnership sees Moderna invest a “substantial” amount in research and development. Dr Matthew Hallsworth, NIHR Director of Strategic Partnerships, is “really pleased that Moderna has chosen to run its mpox trial in the UK”, as it “demonstrates our strength in clinical research”.
“Our partnership with Moderna ensures UK research is at the cutting edge of new vaccine technologies with the potential to protect against global health threats such as mpox and future pandemics.”
Dr Hallsworth hopes that the trial recruitment will be “as successful” as COVID-19 vaccine trials and encouraged the UK public to “help out where they can”. This could be “volunteering or encouraging others”.
Personal accounts
NIHR shares two accounts. The first is Harun Tulunay’s story of exposure to the mpox virus. Harun is a sexual health advocate who was exposed in June 2022. At first he thought his symptoms, high fever, shivers, and swollen lymph nodes, were caused by COVID-19 or the flu. However, when a painful blister on his face grew from the size of a spot to covering most of his nose, he became worried. He was referred for an mpox test at a sexual health clinic, but his symptoms worsened before the results came back.
When the lesions in his throat prevented him from eating or drinking, he was admitted to hospital and treated with an antiviral originally developed for smallpox.
“It was an unbearably painful experience.”
Harun used his hospital stay as an opportunity to educate others, documenting the process to spread awareness.
“People didn’t know about mpox. I didn’t know about it. It was really scary, so I started to share my journey…since then, I’ve been an advocate for mpox.”
Harun volunteered for COVID-19 vaccine trials during the pandemic and hopes that others will contribute to this trial too so that vaccination availability will increase both in the UK and abroad.
“As a man living with HIV, I took part in COVID trials and other trials to help other people – people really need to approach this from that perspective. People who participate in this trial will be part of advancing research that will maybe change lives. Being a part of that is such a great feeling – I know that from my own experience.”
The second story is Isabella’s. She is a clinical trials manager from East London and has worked on studies at Queen Mary’s Blizard Institute but never taken part in a trial herself. She heard that the mPower Trial needed healthy volunteers and decided to enrol.
“In pre-COVID days I might have been a bit cautious about clinical trials, even though I work in them myself. There’s something about signing up to receive an injection as a healthy volunteer that is perhaps a barrier and makes you think twice. But I feel like we live in a world where everyone has more scientific awareness and knows a bit more about how vaccines are made – so I felt reassured by that.”
More trial information can be found on the website here. We’re looking forward to exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with mpox vaccine development at the Congress in Washington this April, so if this is of interest do get your tickets to join us and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletters here.
