Immunization of preterm infants with GSK’s hexavalent combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B-inactivated poliovirus-Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine: A review of safety and immunogenicity

BackgroundInfants with history of prematurity (<37 weeks gestation) and low birth weight (LBW, <2500 g) are at high risk of infection due to functional immaturity of normal physical and immunological defense mechanisms. Despite current recommendations that infants with history of prematurity/LBW should receive routine immunization according to the same schedule and chronological age as full-term infants, immunization is often delayed.MethodsHere we summarize 10 clinical studies and 15 years of post-marketing safety surveillance of GSK’s hexavalent vaccine (DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib), a combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular-pertussis-hepatitis-B-inactivated-poliovirus-Haemophilus influenzae-type-b (Hib) conjugate vaccine, when administered alone, or co-administered with pneumococcal conjugate, rotavirus, and meningococcal vaccines and respiratory syncytial virus IgG to infants with history of prematurity/LBW in clinical trials.ResultsAt least 92.5% of infants with history of prematurity/LBW as young as 24 weeks gestation in clinical studies were seropositive to all vaccine antigens after 3-dose primary vaccination with GSK’s hexavalent DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine, with robust immune responses to booster vaccination. Seropositivity rates and antibody concentrations to hepatitis B and Hib appeared lower in infants with history of prematurity/LBW than term infants. Between 13–30% of medically stable infants with history of prematurity developed apnea after vaccination with GSK’s hexavalent DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine; usually after dose 1. The occurrence of post-immunization cardiorespiratory events appears to be influenced by the severity of any underlying neonatal condition. Most cardiorespiratory events resolve spontaneously or require minimal intervention. GSK’s hexavalent DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine was well tolerated in co-administration regimens.ConclusionGSK’s hexavalent DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine alone or co-administered with other pediatric vaccines has a clinically acceptable safety and immunogenicity profile when used in infants with history of prematurity/LBW for primary and booster vaccination. Additional studies are needed in very premature and very LBW infants. However, currently available data support using GSK’s hexavalent DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine to immunize infants with history of prematurity/LBW according to chronological age.     

Cost of goods sold and total cost of delivery for oral and parenteral vaccine packaging formats

Despite limitations of glass packaging for vaccines, the industry has been slow to implement alternative formats. Polymer containers may address many of these limitations, such as breakage and delamination. However, the ability of polymer containers to achieve cost of goods sold (COGS) and total cost of delivery (TCOD) competitive with that of glass containers is unclear, especially for cost-sensitive low- and lower-middle-income countries.COGS and TCOD models for oral and parenteral vaccine packaging formats were developed based on information from subject matter experts, published literature, and Kenya’s comprehensive multiyear plan for immunization. Rotavirus and inactivated poliovirus vaccines (IPV) were used as representative examples of oral and parenteral vaccines, respectively. Packaging technologies evaluated included glass vials, blow-fill-seal (BFS) containers, preformed polymer containers, and compact prefilled auto-disable (CPAD) devices in both BFS and preformed formats.For oral vaccine packaging, BFS multi-monodose (MMD) ampoules were the least expensive format, with a COGS of $0.12 per dose. In comparison, oral single-dose glass vials had a COGS of $0.40. BFS MMD ampoules had the lowest TCOD of oral vaccine containers at $1.19 per dose delivered, and ten-dose glass vials had a TCOD of $1.61 per dose delivered. For parenteral vaccines, the lowest COGS was achieved with ten-dose glass vials at $0.22 per dose. In contrast, preformed CPAD devices had the highest COGS at $0.60 per dose. Ten-dose glass vials achieved the lowest TCOD of the parenteral vaccine formats at $1.56 per dose delivered. Of the polymer containers for parenteral vaccines, BFS MMD ampoules achieved the lowest TCOD at $1.89 per dose delivered, whereas preformed CPAD devices remained the most expensive format, at $2.25 per dose delivered.Given their potential to address the limitations of glass and reduce COGS and TCOD, polymer containers deserve further consideration as alternative approaches for vaccine packaging.     

Comparison of serum bactericidal and antibody titers induced by two Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines: A phase III randomized double-blind study

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines have drastically reduced disease incidence worldwide. Protection against Hib infection has relied on the serum bactericidal activity (SBA) of antibodies to the Hib capsular polysaccharide (polyribosylribitol phosphate). However, licensure usually relies on measuring induction of antibodies to PRP as a surrogate for SBA. In a phase III clinical trial we compared a PRP-conjugate vaccine using the nontoxic diphtheria toxin mutant, CRM₁₉₇, as carrier protein with the licensed tetanus toxoid conjugate when administered subcutaneously as a three dose primary series in Japanese infants. As an addition to the phase III study, we have now evaluated SBA and show PRP-CRM₁₉₇ induces higher levels of SBA than PRP-T four weeks after the primary series, with a statistically significant correlation with anti-PRP titers. This data confirms the superior immunogenicity of PRP-CRM₁₉₇ compared with PRP-T assessed as SBA following a three-dose primary series by subcutaneous administration.Clinical trial registry: Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01379846).     

Hib多糖衍生物中残余CDAP检测方法的建立

目的 在b型流感嗜血杆菌结合疫苗生产过程中有效监控1-氰基-4-二甲基氨基-吡啶四氟化硼（CDAP）的残留量。方法 在已有针对流脑多糖衍生物的基于强阳离子交换层析检测法的基础上进行改进。结果 该法具有良好的专属性、准确度、精密度,最低检出限为6μg/L,且在20~100μg/L的范围内线性良好。结论 建立了一种针对b型流感嗜血杆菌多糖衍生物中CDAP的检测方法。     

Assessment of immunization status in hospitalized children followed by counseling of parents and primary care physicians improves vaccination coverage: an interventional study

This prospective, intervention-control study in hospitalized, underimmunized children assessed the effect of vaccination reminders to parents during hospitalization and provides postdischarge rates of catch-up immunizations. One month after hospital discharge, significantly more children in the intervention group (27%) than the controls (8%) had received catch-up immunizations (P < .001).     

Immunogenicity and thermal stability of a combined vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C diseases

The immunogenicity, structure and stability of a combined conjugate vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal serogroup C (Hib/MenC) were investigated. A rat model for immunogenicity showed that antibody responses to Hib and MenC in the combined vaccine were similar to or higher than those of individual conjugates given alone, or concomitantly at separate sites. At elevated temperatures, the combination vaccine was slightly more stable than a monovalent Hib-TT vaccine, with respect to molecular size, which could be attributed to differences in the formulations. Following 5 weeks incubation at 56 °C, there was some dissociation of high molecular weight conjugate without significant loss of saccharide integrity; however, this did not significantly affect the vaccine immunogenicity, demonstrating the stability of this lyophilized vaccine.     

Hospital-based sentinel surveillance for bacterial meningitis in under-five children prior to the introduction of the PCV13 in India

IntroductionA hospital-based sentinel surveillance network for bacterial meningitis was established in India to estimate the burden of bacterial meningitis, and the proportion of major vaccine-preventable causative organisms. This report summarises the findings of the surveillance conducted between March 2012, and September 2016 in eleven hospitals.MethodsWe enrolled eligible children with bacterial meningitis in the age group of one to 59 months. CSF samples were collected and processed for biochemistry, culture, latex agglutination, and real-time PCR. Pneumococcal isolates were serotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility.ResultsAmong 12 941 enrolled suspected meningitis cases, 586 (4.5%) were laboratory confirmed. S. pneumoniae (74.2%) was the most commonly detected pathogen, followed by H. influenzae (22.2%), and N. meningitidis (3.6%). Overall 58.1% of confirmed bacterial meningitis cases were children aged between one, and 11 months. H. influenzae meningitis cases had a high (12.3%) case fatality rate. The serotypes covered in PCV13 caused 72% pneumococcal infections, and the most common serotypes were 14 (18.3%), 6B (12.7%) and 19F (9.9%). Non-susceptibility to penicillin was 57%. Forty-five (43.7%) isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, of which 37 were PCV13 serotype isolates.ConclusionsThe results are representative of the burden of bacterial meningitis among under-five children in India. The findings were useful in rolling out PCV in the National Immunization Program. The non-susceptibility to penicillin and multidrug resistance was an important observation. Timely expansion of PCV across India will significantly reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance. Continued surveillance is needed to understand the trend after PCV expansion in India.     

A Phase III randomized,double-blind,clinical trial of an investigational hexavalent vaccine given at 2, 4, and 11–12 months

BackgroundCombination vaccines simplify vaccination visits and improve coverage and timeliness. DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib is a new investigational, fully-liquid, combination vaccine designed to protect against 6 infectious diseases, including 5 pertussis antigens and OMPC instead of PT as conjugated protein for Hib component.MethodsIn this multicenter, double-blind, comparator-controlled, Phase III study (NCT01480258) conducted in Sweden, Italy, and Finland, healthy infants were randomized 1:1 to receive one two immunization regimens. The DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib Group received the investigational hexavalent vaccine (DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib) and the Control Group received Infanrix-hexa (DTPa3-HBV-IPV/Hib) at 2, 4 and 11–12 months of age. Both groups received concomitantly Prevnar 13 (PCV13) and Rotateq (RV5) or Rotarix (RV1) at 2, 4 months of age and PCV13 at 11–12 months. Subjects administered RV5 received a 3rd dose at 5 months of age.ResultsA total of 656 subjects were randomized to the DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib Group and 659 subjects to Control Group. Immune responses to all vaccine antigens post-toddler dose were non-inferior in the DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib Group as compared to the Control Group. Additionally, the post-dose 2 and pre-toddler DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib anti-PRP responses were superior. The DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib Group responses to concomitant RV1 were non-inferior compared to the Control Group.Solicited adverse event rates after any dose were similar in both groups, except for higher rates of pyrexia (6.4% difference; 95% CI: 1.5, 11.3) and somnolence (5.8% difference; 95% CI: 1.7, 9.8) in the DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib Group. Vaccine-related serious adverse events occurred infrequently in the DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib Group (0.3%) and the Control Group (0.5%).ConclusionsThe safety and immunogenicity of DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib is generally comparable to Control when administered in the 2, 4, 11–12 month schedule. Early Hib responses were superior versus Control. DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib could provide a new hexavalent option for pediatric combination vaccines, aligned with recommended immunizations in Europe.Study identification: V419-008CLINICALTRIALS.GOV identifier: NCT01480258     

Glycoconjugate vaccines and immune interference: A review

Bacterial polysaccharide–protein conjugate vaccines (Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib], pneumococcal and meningococcal conjugates) have revolutionized pediatric vaccination strategies. The widely used carrier proteins are tetanus toxoid (TT), diphtheria toxoid (DT) and diphtheria toxoid variant CRM197 protein, DT conjugates being in general less immunogenic. Multivalent conjugates using TT were found to be at risk for reduced polysaccharide responses, whilst multivalent CRM197 conjugates are at lower risk for this, but may be at higher risk of inducing bystander interference, particularly affecting Hib and hepatitis B immune responses. Novel carriers avoiding these issues could enable the further development of pediatric schedules and combinations.