5:10PM Dynavax Technologies reports on HEPLISAV regulatory path: 'finalized a study design' (DVAX) 1.23 +0.06 : Co announced the design of its next large-scale clinical study of HEPLISAV, its investigational adult hepatitis B vaccine, following discussions with the FDA. The planned study, HBV-23, is intended to provide a sufficiently-sized safety database for the Agency to complete its review of Dynavax's Biologics License Application (BLA). It will be an 8,000 subject, Phase 3, observer-blinded, randomized, active-controlled, multicenter trial of the safety and immunogenicity of HEPLISAV compared with Engerix-B in adults 18 to 70 years of age. The primary objectives of HBV-23 will be:

• To evaluate the overall safety of HEPLISAV with respect to clinically significant adverse events; and
• To demonstrate the noninferiority of the peak seroprotection rate (SPR) induced by HEPLISAV to Engerix-B in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

HBV-23 will include 5,500 HEPLISAV subjects and 2,500 Engerix-B subjects, randomized 2:1 and stratified by age and diabetes diagnosis. HEPLISAV subjects will receive two doses at 0 and 1 month, while Engerix-B subjects will receive three doses at 0, 1 and 6 months. All HEPLISAV subjects will be evaluated for safety for one year following the second dose and all potential autoimmune events will be adjudicated by a Safety Evaluation and Adjudication Committee. Immunogenicity assessments will be conducted in a subset of subjects, including those with type 2 diabete