Randomized Participant- and Investigator-Blinded Trial to Compare the Clinical Efficacy of Recombinant Influenza Vaccine to Standard Dose Egg-Based Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years in the United States

This randomized, active comparator trial will compare the clinical efficacy of recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) to standard-dose egg-based inactivated influenza vaccine (SD IIV) among adults aged 18-64 years. The primary study hypothesis is that the clinical efficacy of RIV is superior to that of SD IIV to prevent and attenuate influenza-like illness (ILI)-associated influenza virus infection. Relative efficacy will be assessed by comparing rates of ILI-associated reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed influenza virus infection and measures of infection and illness attenuation among participants who receive RIV versus SD IIV. A secondary hypothesis is that humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to RIV are superior to responses to SD IIV. Relative immunogenicity will be assessed by comparing markers of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses post-vaccination among a subset of participants who receive RIV versus SD IIV

The trial will be conducted at up to 6 sites in the United States during at least two influenza seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24). Stratified enrollment procedures will be used to enroll a representative mix of participants based on age (18-49 and 50-64 years). In addition, an enrollment quota will be used to enroll a minimum proportion of trial participants that self-identify as from a racial or ethnic group that has been historically underrepresented in clinical trials to optimize the racial and ethnic representativeness of the trial population compared to the US source population.

Eligible participants at each site will be randomized 1:1 to receive a single dose of RIV (Flublok® Quadrivalent by Sanofi Pasteur, 45µg of HA per strain) versus a single dose of SD IIV (Fluzone® Quadrivalent by Sanofi Pasteur, 15 µg of HA per strain) during approximately September through mid-November of 2022 or 2023. At a subset of sites, approximately 120 participants per trial season will be recruited and enrolled into an immunogenicity substudy with blood collection. All study vaccines are licensed for use in adults aged >18 years in the United States; RIV is licensed for adults aged >=18 years and SD IIV is licensed for persons aged >=6 months. Participants and study investigators will be blinded to study arm assignment. Designated study staff administering vaccines will be aware of study arm assignment and will not be involved with study surveillance to avoid involvement with measurement of study outcomes.

All participants will be followed with surveillance for ILI-associated RT-PCR-confirmed influenza virus infection. ILI will be defined as subjective (i.e., participant-reported) fever, cough, runny nose, or sore throat. Starting at enrollment, participants will respond to weekly text messages or emails asking about new onset of ILI symptoms to familiarize them with the electronic surveillance procedures and keep them engaged in the study prior to circulation of influenza viruses in the community. Once national and/or state influenza surveillance systems indicate that influenza viruses have begun circulating in the United States or no later than the first week of December, participants will also self-collect mid-turbinate nasal swabs (henceforth referred to as 'nasal swabs') with onset of ILI symptoms and self-ship or drop off swabs at designated sites for shipment to a central laboratory. Samples will be tested for influenza viruses by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Samples may also be tested for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and other respiratory viruses. During the influenza virus circulation period or no later than the first week of December, participants who report ILI symptoms during the surveillance contacts will complete follow-up questionnaires to provide detailed information about their illnesses. Electronic surveillance and nasal swab collection will continue until local influenza virus circulation ends with the option to restart surveillance if additional periods of influenza virus circulation occur through May of each trial season.

Participants in the immunogenicity substudy will have blood collected just prior to vaccination and at approximately 7 days, 28 days, and 6 months post-vaccination to evaluate humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to vaccination; these participants will also have two nasal swabs collected prior to vaccination and at approximately 7 and 28 days post-vaccination for human microbiome characterization.