Rotavirus vaccine RIX4414 (Rotarix)

RIX4414 is a human, live attenuated rotavirus vaccine containing a rotavirus strain of G1P[8] specificity; it is administered orally using a two-dose schedule. RIX4414 showed good immunogenicity in healthy infants in several well designed trials in terms of both seroconversion rates and vaccine take. Moreover, RIX4414 did not impair the immune response of infants to other vaccines. RIX4414 provided significant protection against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. In a subgroup analysis (n = 20 169) of a large (n = 63 225), well designed, placebo-controlled, phase III trial (conducted in Latin America and Finland), the efficacy of RIX4414 against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis was 85% in healthy infants, with an efficacy against hospitalization for severe rotavirus gastroenteritis of 85%. RIX4414 provided cross-protection against non-G1 serotypes containing the P[8] antigen. Moreover, in this trial, RIX4414 had a protective efficacy against severe gastroenteritis of any cause of 40%, with an efficacy against hospitalization because of severe gastroenteritis of any cause of 42%. In another well designed, placebo-controlled, phase III trial (conducted in Europe; n = 3874), RIX4414 had an efficacy against rotavirus gastroenteritis of any severity of 87%, an efficacy against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis of 96%, and an efficacy against hospitalization because of rotavirus gastroenteritis of 100%. RIX4414 protected against rotavirus gastroenteritis from the first dose onwards. A meta-analysis revealed that RIX4414 had a protective efficacy against rotavirus gastroenteritis of any severity caused by the G2P[4] serotype of 81% and against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis caused by the G2P[4] serotype of 71%. RIX4414 was generally well tolerated in healthy infants. The vaccine did not appear to be associated with an increased risk of intussusception.