Vaccination Response Modulation With a Targeted Rapamycin Protocol Study

ClinicalTrials.gov ID

NCT07587801

Lead Sponsor

Central Adelaide Local Health Network IncorporatedOTHER_GOV

Overall Status

Not yet recruiting

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Enrollment

60Estimated

Last Update Posted

May 14, 2026Actual

Start Date

May 2026Estimated

Primary Completion Date

Jul 2026Estimated

Completion Date

Jul 2026Estimated

Official Title

Vaccination Response Modulation With a Targeted Rapamycin Protocol (VON TRAPP) Study

Brief Summary

This study will investigate dialysis recipients' responses to important vaccines.

Research suggests that a medication commonly used by transplant recipients may improve vaccine responses. The investigators will be conducting a clinical trial to see whether a short course of low-dose Sirolimus improves the response to vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza (flu) in patient with kidney disease over 60 years old who receive haemodialysis.

Detailed Description

Respiratory viruses are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Influenza are major contributors to yearly respiratory virus epidemics that particularly affect older persons and persons with end-stage kidney disease.

Vaccination is available for the prevention of both RSV and Influenza, but unfortunately the conditions that confer a higher risk of morbidity and mortality with infection are also key predictors of poor responses to vaccination.

Effective vaccine responses require activation of both T and B cells to generate protective and long-lasting antibody and cellular immune responses. Immunosenescence from ageing and end-stage kidney disease, dampens antibody responses and impairs cellular immunity, rendering patients vulnerable to infection.

Previous research suggests that sirolimus(rapamycin)-based immunosuppression regimens improve vaccine immunogenicity. Sirolimus (rapamycin) is a potent inhibitor of mTORC1 which regulates memory CD8+ T cells. Targeting mTORC1 has previous been shown to improve vaccination response in humans to influenza. More recently, small studies have suggested improved responses to COVID vaccination in kidney transplant recipients switched to sirolimus (rapamycin)-based regimens.

This study will investigate a role for sirolimus (rapamycin) as a peri-vaccination immune modulation therapy. The VON TRAPP study is a phase 2a randomised clinical trial that aims to define the optimal, practical and tolerable regimen of peri-vaccination sirolimus (rapamycin) administration to positively modify vaccine responses. Haemodialysis patients over 60 years old will receive both Influenza and RSV vaccines plus either no additional treatment or a peri-vaccination regimen of sirolimus (rapamycin) to determine the most effective regimen to test further.

• Vaccine Immune Response
• Haemodialysis Patients
• Older Adults

• Sirolimus (RAPAMUNE)
• Influenza vaccine (Sequiris Fluad Quad)
• RSV vaccine (Pfizer Abrysvo)

Ages Eligible for Study

Adult (18-64)Older Adult (65+)

Sexes Eligible for Study

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• End-stage kidney disease requiring in-centre haemodialysis three times per week as kidney replacement therapy
• Aged >60 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Aged <60 years

• Alternative haemodialysis regimens (e.g. twice-weekly haemodialysis, second-daily home haemodialysis)

• Recent infection (<6 months) with proven Influenza A, Influenza B, or RSV

• Current use of immunosuppressive medications, including:

  • Oral steroid at a dose equivalent of 5 mg/day prednisolone or greater
  • Mycophenolate mofetil
  • Azathioprine
  • Calcineurin inhibitors
  • mTOR inhibitors

• Recent use of intravenous immunosuppressive medications (<6 months), including:

  • T-cell depleting agents (e.g. anti-thymocyte globulin)
  • B-cell depleting agents (e.g. rituximab)
  • Cyclophosphamide

• Has a history of problems with side-effects associated with sirolimus use including

  • Angioedema
  • Active/recent opportunistic infection
  • Current or prior interstitial lung disease, non-infectious pneumonitis, organising pneumonia, or pulmonary fibrosis
  • Clinically significant pleural effusion or pericardial effusion
  • Active non-healing wounds, chronic skin ulcers, or planned major surgery/procedures
  • Current malignancy or recent malignancy with high recurrence risk
  • Severe or uncontrolled hyperlipidaemia
  • History of rhabdomyolysis
  • Severe hepatic impairment

• Ongoing use of strong CYP3A4/P-gp inhibitors or inducers including

  • Inhibitors: Ketoconazole, Voriconazole, Itraconazole, Telithromycin, Clarithromycin
  • Inducers: Rifampicin, Rifabutin

• Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent to participate in the trial

• Known allergy to or intolerance of sirolimus (rapamycin) or the contents of the influenza or RSV vaccine

Primary Purpose

Prevention

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional Model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

None (Open Label)

Lead Sponsor

Central Adelaide Local Health Network IncorporatedOTHER_GOV

Matthew.Tunbridge@health.qld.gov.au(07) 3176 2111

Toby.Coates@sa.gov.au(08) 7074 0000

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