MF59-adjuvanted H5N1 vaccine induces immunologic memory and heterotypic antibody responses in non-elderly and elderly adults

Abstract

Background: Pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) has the potential to cause a major global pandemic in humans. Safe and effective vaccines that induce immunologic memory and broad heterotypic response are needed.

Methods and findings: Healthy adults aged 18-60 and > 60 years (n = 313 and n = 173, respectively) were randomized (1:1) to receive two primary and one booster injection of 7.5 microg or 15 microg doses of a subunit MF59-adjuvanted H5N1 (A/Vietnam/1194/2004) (clade 1) vaccine. Safety was monitored until 6 months after booster. Immunogenicity was assessed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI), single radial hemolysis (SRH) and microneutralization assays (MN). Mild injection-site pain was the most common adverse reaction. No serious adverse events relating to the vaccine were reported. The humoral immune responses to 7.5 microg and 15 microg doses were comparable. The rates for seroprotection (HI>40; SRH>25 mm(2); MN > or = 40) after the primary vaccination ranged 72-87%. Six months after primary vaccination with the 7.5 microg dose, 18% and 21% of non-elderly and elderly adults were seroprotected; rates increased to 90% and 84%, respectively, after the booster vaccination. In the 15 microg group, seroprotection rates among non-elderly and elderly adults increased from 25% and 62% after primary vaccination to 92% and 88% after booster vaccination, respectively. A heterologous immune response to the H5N1/turkey/Turkey/05 strain was elicited after second and booster vaccinations.

Conclusions: Both formulations of MF59-adjuvanted influenza H5N1 vaccine were well tolerated. The European Union requirement for licensure for pre-pandemic vaccines was met by the lower dose tested. The presence of cross-reactive antibodies to a clade 2 heterologous strain demonstrates that this vaccine may be appropriate for pre-pandemic programs.

Trial registration: (ClinicalTrials.gov) NCT00311480.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: Dr Angelika Banzhoff, Dr Anke Hilbert, Dr Volker Brauer, Sandrine Tilman and Dr Audino Podda are employees of Novartis Vaccines, the sponsor of the study. Dr Franco Laghi-Pasini has received a travel grant from Novartis Vaccines. No other potential conflicts of interest were declared by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1. Subject disposition.

A total of 486 healthy adults were enrolled in the study and randomized in a 1∶1 ratio, stratified by age group (non-elderly adults, aged 18–60 years, and elderly adults, aged >60 years) to receive two vaccinations of either 7.5 μg or 15 μg HA H5N1 (A/Vietnam/1194/2004; NIBRG-14) inactivated subunit influenza virus vaccine adjuvanted with MF59. The first two vaccinations were administered 21 days apart, and a subset of the first participants also received a third (booster) vaccination 6 months later.

Figure 2. Most commonly reported solicited systemic adverse reactions.

Classified as mild/moderate (white bars) or severe (grey bars) after the first, second and third vaccination in non-elderly adults (18–60 years; part a) and in elderly adults (>60 years; part b).

Figure 3. Reverse cumulative distribution curves for microneutralization antibody titers.

Measured 3 weeks after a second injection and 3 weeks after a booster dose in non-elderly adults (18–60 years; parts a and c, respectively) and in elderly adults (>60 years; parts b and d, respectively).