A head-to-head comparison of humoral and cellular immune responses of five COVID-19 vaccines in adults in China.

Introduction: Various COVID-19 vaccine trials have shown that vaccines can successfully prevent symptomatic cases of COVID-19 and death. Head-to-head comparisons help to better understand the immune response characteristics of different COVID-19 vaccines in humans. Methods: We randomly selected 20 participants from each of five ongoing Phase II trials of COVID-19 vaccines. Here, SARS-CoV 2-specific immune responses to DNA vaccine (INO-4800), mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2), Adenovirus-vectored vaccine (CONVIDECIA), Protein subunit vaccine (Recombinant COVID- 19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cells)), Inactivated Vaccine (KCONVAC) were examined longitudinally in healthy adults between Jan 15, 2021 and July 5, 2021 for 6 months. RBD-IgG titres were detected by ELISA, neutralising antibody titer were detected by pseudoviral neutralization and immune cell response were detected by flow cytometry. Results: At the first visit (V1), 100% of individuals who received the BNT162b2, CONVIDECIA, or KCONVAC vaccines experienced seroconversion of neutralizing and binding antibodies in the serum. Except for the Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cells) vaccine having the highest neutralizing antibody GMT at the second visit (although there was no statistically significant difference in geometric mean titers between V1 and V2), the rest of the vaccines had the highest levels of binding antibodies and neutralizing antibodies at V1. The neutralizing antibodies GMT of all vaccines showed a significant decrease at V3 compared to V1. The neutralizing antibody GMT against the omicron variant of all vaccines at V1 showed a significant decrease compared to the wild strain. We observed statistically significant differences in Tcm cells and RBD-specific memory B cells among various vaccines. Discussion: BNT162b2 (mRNA vaccine) exhibits the highest antibody levels among the five vaccines evaluated, regardless of whether the target is the wild-type virus or its variants. However, its cellular immune response may be weaker compared to CONVIDECIA (adenovirus type 5 vector vaccine).

Evaluation of human antibodies from vaccinated volunteers for protection against Yersinia pestis infection.

Yersinia pestis has a broad host range and has caused lethal bubonic and pneumonic plague in humans. With the emergence of multiple resistant strains and the potential for biothreat use, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies that can protect populations from natural or deliberate infection. Targeting F1 has been proven to be the main strategy for developing vaccines and therapeutic antibodies, but data on anti-F1 antibodies, especially in humans, are scarce. To date, three human anti-F1 monoclonal antibodies (m252, αF1Ig2, and αF1Ig8) from naive populations have been reported. Here, we constructed an antibody library from vaccinees immunized with the plague subunit vaccine IIa by phage display. The genetic basis, epitopes, and biological functions of the obtained mAbs were assessed and evaluated in plague-challenged mice. Three human mAbs, namely, F3, F19, and F23, were identified. Their biolayer responses were 0.4, 0.6, and 0.6 nm, respectively. The dissociation constants (KD) of the F1 antigen were 1 pM, 0.165 nM, and 1 pM, respectively. Although derived from distinct Ab lineages, that is, VH3-30-D3-10-JH4 (F3&F23) and VH3-43-D6-19-JH4 (F19), these mAbs share similar binding sites in F1 with some overlap with αF1Ig8 but are distinct from αF1Ig2. Each of them provided a significant protective effect for Balb/c mice against a 100 median lethal dose (MLD) challenge of a virulent Y. pestis strain when administered at a dose of 100 µg. No synergistic or antagonistic effects were observed among them. These mAbs are novel and excellent candidates for further drug development and use in clinical practice.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we identified three human monoclonal antibodies with a high affinity to F1 protein of Yersinia pestis. We discovered that they have relatively lower somatic hypermutations compared with antibodies, m252, αF1Ig2, and αF1Ig8, derived from the naive library reported previously. We also observed that these mAbs share similar binding sites in F1 with some overlapping with αF1Ig8 but distinct from that of αF1Ig2. Furthermore, each of them could provide complete protection for mice against a lethal dose of Yersinia pestis challenge. Our data provided new insights into the anti-F1 Ab repertories and their associated epitopes during vaccination in humans. The findings support the additional novel protective human anti-F1Abs for potential therapeutics against plaque.

Assessment of site suitability for centralized photovoltaic power stations in Northwest China's six provinces.

Northwest China has abundant solar energy resources and extensive land, making it a pivotal site for solar energy development. However, restrictions on site selection and severe weather conditions have hindered the establishment and operation of photovoltaic (PV) power stations. Previous studies have not considered meteorological factors when evaluating site suitability, leading to research gaps in identifying suitable areas and establishing indicator systems. We aimed to address these gaps by considering seven factors constraining the construction of centralized PV power stations (CPPS) and developing an indicator system based on terrain, climate, soil, and economic factors. Furthermore, we conducted analyses to quantify the solar energy generation potential (SEGP), carbon emissions reduction benefits, and land utilization potential at different sites. The findings indicate that areas rated as very suitable and extremely suitable comprised the largest proportion (62.35%) of site suitability. The correlation between site suitability and electricity consumption was largely non-significant, highlighting the need for enhanced coordination. Additionally, we forecast the electricity consumption in Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Shaanxi for 2030 to be 56.62, 19.86, 54.54, 13.59, 15.96, and 33.34 ( × 1011 kWh), respectively, with corresponding carbon emissions reduction potentials of 20.2, 7.1, 19.4, 4.8, 5.7, and 11.9 ( × 109 kg). Consequently, PV carbon reduction and land utilization potential are substantial.

Safety and immunogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 LYB001 RBD-based VLP vaccine (CHO cell) phase 1 in Chinese adults: a randomized, double-blind, positive-parallel-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination remains the cornerstone of defense against COVID-19 globally. This study aims to assess the safety and immunogenicity profile of innovative vaccines LYB001. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial, in 100 healthy Chinese adults (21 to 72 years old). Three doses of 30 or 60 µg of SARS-CoV-2 RBD-based VLP vaccine (LYB001), or the SARS-CoV-2 RBD-based protein subunit vaccine (ZF2001, control group) were administered with a 28-day interval. Differences in the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and indicators of humoral and cellular immunity among the different groups were measured. RESULTS: No severe adverse events were confirmed to be vaccine-related, and there was no significant difference in the rate of adverse events between the LYB001 and control group or the age subgroups (p > 0.05). The LYB001 groups had significantly higher or comparable levels of seroconversion rates, neutralization antibody, S protein-binding antibody, and cellular immunity after whole vaccination than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support that LYB001 developed on the VLP platform is safe and well tolerated with favorable immunogenicity for fundamental vaccination in healthy adults. Therefore, further larger-scale clinical studies are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05552573).

Immunogenicity and safety of an ORF7-deficient skin-attenuated and neuro-attenuated live vaccine for varicella: a randomised, double-blind, controlled, phase 2a trial.

BACKGROUND: The Oka varicella vaccine strain remains neurovirulent and can establish lifelong latent infection, raising safety concerns about vaccine-related herpes zoster. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a skin-attenuated and neuro-attenuated varicella vaccine candidate (v7D vaccine). METHODS: We did this randomised, double-blind, controlled, phase 2a clinical trial in Jiangsu, China. Healthy children aged 3-12 years with no history of varicella infection or vaccination were enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to receive a single subcutaneous injection of the v7D vaccine at 3·3 log10 plaque forming units (PFU; low-dose v7D group), 3·9 log10 PFU (medium-dose v7D group), and 4·2 log10 PFU (high-dose v7D group), or the positive control varicella vaccine (vOka vaccine group). All the participants, laboratory personnel, and investigators other than the vaccine preparation and management staff were masked to the vaccine allocation. The primary outcome was assessment of the geometric mean titres (GMTs) and seroconversion rates of anti-varicella zoster virus immunoglobulin G (IgG) induced by different dose groups of v7D vaccine at 0, 42, 60, and 90 days after vaccination in the per-protocol set for humoral immune response analysis. Safety was a secondary outcome, focusing on adverse events within 42 days post-vaccination, and serious adverse events within 6 months after vaccination. This study was registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000034434. FINDINGS: On Aug 18-21, 2020, 842 eligible volunteers were enrolled and randomly assigned treatment. After three participants withdrew, 839 received a low dose (n=211), middle dose (n=210), or high dose (n=210) of v7D vaccine, or the vOka vaccine (n=208). In the per-protocol set for humoral immune response analysis, the anti-varicella zoster virus IgG antibody response was highest at day 90. At day 90, the seroconversion rates of the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of v7D vaccine and the positive control vOka vaccine group were 100·0% (95% CI 95·8-100·0; 87 of 87 participants), 98·9% (93·8-100·0; 87 of 88 participants), 97·8% (92·4-99·7; 91 of 93 participants), and 96·4% (89·8-99·2; 80 of 83 participants), respectively; the GMTs corresponded to values of 30·8 (95% CI 26·2-36·0), 31·3 (26·7-36·6), 28·2 (23·9-33·2), and 38·5 (31·7-46·7). The v7D vaccine, at low dose and medium dose, elicited a humoral immune response similar to that of the vOka vaccine. However, the high-dose v7D vaccine induced a marginally lower GMT compared with the vOka vaccine at day 90 (p=0·027). In the per-protocol set, the three dose groups of the v7D vaccine induced a similar humoral immune response at each timepoint, with no statistically significant differences. The incidence of adverse reactions in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of v7D vaccine was significantly lower than that in the vOka vaccine group (17% [35 of 211 participants], 20% [41 of 210 participants], and 13% [27 of 210 participants] vs 24% [50 of 208 participants], respectively; p=0·025), especially local adverse reactions (10% [22 of 211 participants], 14% [30 of 210 participants] and 9% [18 of 210 participants] vs 18% [38 of 208 participants], respectively; p=0·016). None of the serious adverse events were vaccine related. INTERPRETATION: The three dose groups of the candidate v7D vaccine exhibit similar humoral immunogenicity to the vOka vaccine and are well tolerated. These findings encourage further investigations on two-dose vaccination schedules, efficacy, and the potential safety benefit of v7D vaccine in the future. FUNDING: The National Natural Science Foundation of China, CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and Beijing Wantai. TRANSLATION: For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Relative effectiveness of a heterologous booster dose with adenovirus type 5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine versus three doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in adults during a nationwide outbreak of omicron predominance, in China: a retrospective, individually matched cohort-control study.

Effectiveness of heterologous booster regimes with ad5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine in a large, diverse population during the national-scale outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 omicron predominance in China has not been reported, yet. We conducted a large-scale cohort-control study in six provinces in China, and did a retrospective survey on the COVID-19 attack risk during this outbreak. Participant aged ≥18 years in five previous trials who were primed with 1 to 3 doses of ICV received heterologous booster with either intramuscular or orally inhaled ad5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine were included in the heterologous-trial cohort. We performed propensity score-matching at a ratio of 1:4 to match participants in the heterologous-trial cohort individually with the community individuals who received three-dose of ICV as a control (ICV-community cohort). From February 4 to April 10, 2023, 41504 (74.5%) of 55710 individuals completed the survey. The median time since the most recent vaccination to the onset of the symptoms of COVID-19 was 303.0 days (IQR 293.0-322.0). The attack rate of COVID-19 in the heterologous-trial cohort was 55.8%, while that in the ICV-community cohort was 64.6%, resulting in a relative effectiveness of 13.7% (95% CI 11.9 to 15.3). In addition, a higher relative effectiveness against COVID-19 associated outpatient visits, and admission to hospital was demonstrated, which was 25.1% (95% CI 18.9 to 30.9), and 48.9% (95% CI 27.0 to 64.2), respectively. The heterologous booster with ad5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine still offered some additional protection in preventing COVID-19 breakthrough infection versus homologous three-dose regimen with ICV, 10 months after vaccination.

Immunogenicity and Safety of One versus Two Doses of Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV4) in Vaccine-Unprimed Children and One Dose of IIV4 in Vaccine-Primed Children Aged 3-8 Years.

Two doses of the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) are generally recommended for children under 9 years old. This study assessed the necessity for a second dose of quadrivalent IIV (IIV4) in children aged 3-8 years. In this randomized, open-label, paralleled-controlled study, 400 children aged 3-8 years who were vaccine-unprimed were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to receive a two-dose (Group 1) or one-dose (Group 2) regimen of IIV4, and 200 who were vaccine-primed received one dose of IIV4 (Group 3). A serum sample was collected before and 28 days after the last dose to determine the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody level. Adverse events were collected within 28 days after each dose. One-dose or two-doses of IIV4 were well tolerated and safe in children aged 3-8 years, and no serious adverse events related to the vaccine were reported. The seroconversion rates (SCRs) of HI antibody ranged from 61.86% to 95.86%, and the post-vaccination seroprotection rates (SPRs) were all >70% in three groups against the four virus strains. The two-dose regimen in vaccine-unprimed participants (Group 1) achieved similar SPRs in comparison with the one-dose in the vaccine-primed group (Group 3), and the SPRs in Group 1 and Group 3 were higher in vaccine-unprimed participants of the one-dose regimen (Group 2). The present study supports the recommendations of a two-dose regimen for IIV4 use in children aged 3-8 years.

Safety and immunogenicity of a modified Omicron-adapted inactivated vaccine in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled Phase III clinical trial.

Background: Updated vaccine strategies are needed to protect against new SARS-CoV-2 variants with increased immune escape. Here, information on the safety and immunogenicity of an inactivated Omicron-adapted vaccine is presented, as compared with CoronaVac. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, phase III clinical trial was conducted to compare a modified Omicron-adapted vaccine (Omicron vaccine) with the authorized prototype vaccine (CoronaVac®) as a booster dose. Healthy adults aged ≥18 years, who have previously received 2 or 3 doses of CoronaVac (2C or 3C cohort) at least 6 months before, were enrolled to get a booster dose of Omicron vaccine or CoronaVac in a ratio of 2:1 (2C/3C+1O/1C). Back-up serums after two initial doses of CoronaVac (2C+0) for adults aged 26-45 years were collected from a previous study. Immunogenicity and safety data at 28 days after vaccination were collected and analyzed. One of the primary objectives was to evaluate the superiority of immunogenicity of Omicron vaccine booster against Omicron BA.1, compared with CoronaVac booster against BA.1. Another objective was to evaluate the non-inferiority of immunogenicity of Omicron vaccine booster against BA.1, compared with two initial doses of CoronaVac against ancestral strain. Results: Between June 1st and July 21st, 2022, a total of 1,500 healthy adults were enrolled. Results show that all pre-specified superiority criteria for BA.1 neutralizing antibody were met. Specifically, within the 3C cohort (3C+1O vs. 3C+1C), the geometric mean titers' (GMT) ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.64 (1.42, 1.89), with the lower 95%CI ≥1; a GMT ratio of 1.84 (1.57, 2.16) was observed for 2C+1O versus 3C+1C. For seroconversion rate, the lower 95%CIs of differences between immuno-comparative groups (2/3C+1O vs. 3C+1C) were all above the superiority criterion 0%. However, the non-inferiority criterion of the lower 95%CI of GMT ratio ≥2/3 was unfulfilled for 2C/3C+1O against BA.1 versus 2C+0 against ancestral strain. Safety profiles were similar between groups, with no safety concerns identified. Conclusion: The Omicron-adapted vaccine was well-tolerated and could elicit superior immune responses as compared with CoronaVac against Omicron, while it appeared inferior to CoronaVac against ancestral strain. Clinical trial registration: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05381350?term=NCT05381350&draw=2&rank=1, identifier NCT05381350.

Immunogenicity and safety of an Escherichia coli-produced human papillomavirus (types 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58) L1 virus-like-particle vaccine: a phase 2 double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

The Escherichia coli-produced human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 bivalent vaccine (Cecolin) has received prequalification by the World Health Organization based on its high efficacy and good safety profile. We aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the second-generation nonavalent HPV 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58 vaccine (Cecolin 9) through the randomized, blinded phase 2 clinical trial. Eligible healthy women aged 18-45 years were randomly (1:1) allocated to receive three doses of 1.0 mL (270 µg) of Cecolin 9 or placebo with a 0-1-6-month schedule. The primary endpoint was the seroconversion rate and geometric mean titer of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) one month after the full vaccination course (month 7). The secondary endpoint was the safety profile including solicited adverse reactions occurring within 7 d, adverse events (AEs) occurring within 30 d after each dose, and serious adverse events (SAEs) occurring during the 7-month follow-up period. In total, 627 volunteers were enrolled and randomly assigned to Cecolin 9 (n = 313) or placebo (n = 314) group in Jiangsu Province, China. Almost all participants in the per-protocol set for immunogenicity (PPS-I) seroconverted for nAbs against all the nine HPV types at month 7, while two failed to seroconvert for HPV 11 and one did not seroconvert for HPV 52. The incidence rates of total AEs in the Cecolin 9 and placebo groups were 80.8% and 72.9%, respectively, with the majority of them being mild and recovering shortly. None of the SAEs were considered related to vaccination. In conclusion, the E. coli-produced 9-valent HPV (9vHPV) vaccine candidate was well tolerated and immunogenic, which warrants further efficacy studies in larger populations.

A randomized, open-label, phase 3 study evaluating safety and immunogenicity of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Chinese infants and children under 6 years of age.

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes a considerable disease burden among children in China. Many isolates exhibit antimicrobial resistance but are often serotypes covered by the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). Because the approved infant immunization schedule in China allows PCV13 vaccination only for those 6 weeks to 15 months of age, this phase 3 study was conducted to evaluate PCV13 immunogenicity and safety in unvaccinated older infants and children. Eligible participants were stratified by age into four cohorts: Cohort 1 (n = 125), 6 weeks-2 months; Cohort 2 (n = 354), 7-<12 months; Cohort 3 (n = 250), 1 -<2 years; Cohort 4 (n = 207), 2-<6 years. Cohort 1 received PCV13 at ages 2, 4, and 6 months; older cohorts were randomized 2:1 to PCV13 or Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine using age-appropriate schedules. Within-group immune responses were assessed by immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) titers. Safety evaluations included solicited reactogenicity events and adverse events (AEs). IgG geometric mean concentrations and OPA geometric mean titers for all 13 PCV13 serotypes increased for all participants vaccinated with PCV13, but not those vaccinated with Hib. Immune responses in Cohorts 2-4 were generally comparable with those in Cohort 1 (the infant series) for most serotypes. PCV13 was well tolerated across cohorts, with reported AEs consistent with expectations in these age groups; no new safety signals were identified. These results suggest that PCV13 administered as a catch-up regimen to infants and children 7 months-<6 years of age in China will effectively reduce vaccine-type pneumococcal disease in this population. NCT03574389.

Head-to-head immunogenicity comparison of an Escherichia coli-produced 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine and Gardasil 9 in women aged 18-26 years in China: a randomised blinded clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: An Escherichia coli-produced human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 bivalent vaccine (Cecolin) was prequalified by WHO in 2021. This study aimed to compare the immunogenicity of the E coli-produced HPV 9-valent vaccine Cecolin 9 (against HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58) with Gardasil 9. METHODS: This was a randomised, single-blind trial conducted in China. Healthy non-pregnant women aged 18-26 years, who were not breastfeeding and with no HPV vaccination history, were enrolled in the Ganyu Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, China). Women were stratified by age (18-22 years and 23-26 years) and randomly assigned (1:1) using a permutated block size of eight to receive three doses of Cecolin 9 or Gardasil 9 at day 0, day 45, and month 6. All participants, as well as study personnel without access to the vaccines, were masked. Neutralising antibodies were measured by a triple-colour pseudovirion-based neutralisation assay. The primary outcomes, seroconversion rates and geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) at month 7, were analysed in the per-protocol set for immunogenicity (PPS-I). Non-inferiority was identified for the lower limit of the 95% CI of the GMC ratio (Cecolin 9 vs Gardasil 9) at a margin of 0·5 and a seroconversion rate difference (Cecolin 9-Gardasil 9) at a margin of -5%. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04782895) and is completed. FINDINGS: From March 14 to 18, 2021, a total of 553 potential participants were screened, of which 244 received at least one dose of Cecolin 9 and 243 received at least one dose of Gardasil 9. The seroconversion rates for all HPV types in both groups were 100% in the PPS-I, with the values of the lower limits of 95% CIs for seroconversion rate differences ranging between -1·8% and -1·7%. The GMC ratios of five types were higher than 1·0, with the highest ratio, for HPV 58, at 1·65 (95% CI 1·38-1·97), and those of four types were lower than 1·0, with the lowest ratio, for HPV 11, at 0·79 (0·68-0·93). The incidence of adverse reactions in both groups was similar (43% [104/244] vs 47% [115/243]). INTERPRETATION: Cecolin 9 induced non-inferior HPV type-specific immune responses compared with Gardasil 9 and is a potential candidate to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer by allowing for global accessibility to 9-valent HPV vaccinations, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation, Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation, Xiamen Science and Technology Plan Project, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences of China, and Xiamen Innovax.

Immunogenicity consistency and safety with different production scales of recombinant adenovirus type-5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blinded, immunobridging trial.

BACKGROUND: The certification of immunogenicity consistency at different production scales is indispensable for the quality control of vaccines. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized, double-blind immunobridging trial in healthy adults aged 18-59 was divided into Scale A (50 L and 800 L) and Scale B (50 L and 500 L) based on vaccine manufacturing scales. Eligible participants in Scale A were randomly assigned to receive the single-dose recombinant adenovirus type-5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) of different scales at a 1:1 ratio, as was Scale B. The primary endpoint was the geometric mean titer (GMT) of anti-live SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies (NAb) 28 days post-vaccination. RESULTS: 1,012 participants were enrolled, with 253 (25%) per group. The post-vaccination GMTs of NAb were 10.72 (95% CI: 9.43, 12.19) and 13.23 (11.64, 15.03) in Scale A 50 L and 800 L, respectively; 11.64 (10.12, 13.39) and 12.09 (10.48, 13.95) in Scale B 50 L and 500 L, respectively. GMT ratios in Scale A and B have a 95% CI of 0.67-1.5. Most adverse reactions were mild or moderate. 17 of 18 participants reported non-vaccination-related serious adverse reactions. CONCLUSIONS: The Ad5-nCoV in the scale-up production of 500 L and 800 L showed consistent immunogenicity with the original 50 L production scale, respectively.

Immunogenicity and safety of heterologous immunisation with Ad5-nCOV in healthy adults aged 60 years and older primed with an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac): a phase 4, randomised, observer-blind, non-inferiority trial.

Background: People over 60 have been found to develop less protection after two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines than younger people. Heterologous immunisation could potentially induce more robust immune responses compared to homologous immunisation. We aimed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of a heterologous immunisation with an adenovirus type 5-vectored vaccine (Ad5-nCOV, Convidecia) among elderly who were primed with an inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac) previously. Methods: We did a randomised, observer-blinded, non-inferiority trial in healthy adults aged 60 years and older in Lianshui County (Jiangsu, China) between August 26, 2021 and May 15, 2022. 199 eligible participants who had received two doses of CoronaVac in the past 3-6 months were randomised (1:1) to receive a third dose of Convidecia (group A, n = 99) or CoronaVac (group B, n = 100), while 100 participants primed with one dose of CoronaVac in the past 1-2 months were randomised equally to receive a second dose of Convidecia (group C, n = 50) or CoronaVac (group D, n = 50). Participants and investigators were masked to the vaccine received. Primary outcomes were the geometric mean titers (GMTs) of neutralising antibodies against live SARS-CoV-2 virus 14 days after boosting and 28-day adverse reactions. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.govNCT04952727. Findings: A heterologous third dose of Convidecia resulted in a 6.2-fold (GMTs: 286.4 vs 48.2), 6.3-fold (45.9 vs 7.3) and 7.5-fold (32.9 vs 4.4) increase in neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 wild-type, delta (B.1.617.2) and omicron (BA.1.1) 14 days post boosting, respectively, compared with the homologous boost. The heterologous booster with Convidecia induced significantly higher neutralsing activities, with up to 91% inhibition in binding of Spike to ACE2 for BA.4 and BA.5 variants, compared with 35% inhibition induced by three doses of CoronaVac. For participants primed with one dose of CoronaVac, a heterologous dose of Convidecia induced higher neutralising antibodies against wild-type than two doses of CoronaVac (GMTs: 70.9 vs 9.3, p < 0.0001), but not for that against variants of concern (GMTs against delta: 5.0 vs 4.0, p = 0.4876; GMTs against omicron: 4.8 vs 3.7, p = 0.4707). Adverse reactions were reported by 8 (8.1%) participants in group A and 4 (4.0%) in group B (p ＞ 0.05), and 8 (16.0%) in group C and 1 (2.0%) in group D (p = 0.031). Interpretation: In elderly individuals primed with two doses of CoronaVac, the heterologous immunisation with Convidecia induced strong antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 wildtype and variants of concern, which could be an alternative regimen for enhancing protection in this vulnerable population. Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Jiangsu Provincial Key Research and Development Program, and Jiangsu Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars Program.

Safety and immunogenicity of an Escherichia coli-produced 9-valent human papillomavirus L1 virus-like particle vaccine (types 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58) in healthy adults: an open-label, dose-escalation phase 1 clinical trial.

Background: A safe and highly efficacious Escherichia coli (E. coli)-produced HPV 16/18 bivalent vaccine has been prequalified by the World Health Organization. Here, we conducted a single-center, open-label, dose-escalation phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the second-generation nonavalent HPV 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58 vaccine. Method: Twenty-four eligible volunteers aged 18-45 years were enrolled in January 2019 in Dongtai, China and received 0.5 mL (135 µg) or 1.0 mL (270 µg) of the candidate vaccine with a 0/1/6-month dose-escalation schedule. Local and systemic adverse events (AEs) occurring within 30 days after each vaccination and serious adverse events (SAEs) occurring within 7 months were recorded. Blood samples from each participant were collected before and 2 days after the first and third vaccinations to determine changes in laboratory parameters. Serum IgG and neutralizing antibody (nAb) levels against each HPV type at month 7 were analyzed (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03813940). Findings: The incidences of total AEs in the 135 µg and 270 µg groups were 66.7% and 83.3%, respectively. All AEs were mild or moderate, and no SAEs were reported. No clinically significant changes were found in paired blood indices before or after any of the vaccinations. All the participants in the per-protocol set except for two who failed to seroconvert for HPV 11 or 58 in the 135 µg group seroconverted at month 7 for both IgG and nAbs. Interpretation: The candidate E. coli-produced 9vHPV vaccine has been preliminarily proven to be well tolerated and immunogenic, which encourages further studies in large cohorts with a wider age range. Funding: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation, Fujian Province Health and Education Joint Research Program, Xiamen Science and Technology Plan Project, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences of China, and Xiamen Innovax Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Addressing Unmet Needs in Vaccination for Older Adults in the Asia Pacific: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The impact of vaccinating the older population against vaccine-preventable diseases in terms of health, social and economic benefits has been increasingly recognised. However, there is a gap in the utilisation of vaccines worldwide. The population is ageing at an unprecedented pace in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with the number of persons older than 65 years set to double by 2050 to around 1.3 billion. More than 18% of the population in Japan, Hong Kong, and China is over the age of 65 years. This highlights the importance of prioritising resources to address societal obligations toward the needs of the ageing generation. This review provides an overview of the challenges to adult vaccination in APAC, drivers to increase vaccination coverage, vaccination insights gained through the COVID-19 pandemic, and potential measures to increase the uptake of adult vaccines in the region.

Immunogenicity and immune persistence in 4-year-old children completing four doses of Sabin strain or wild strain inactivated poliovirus vaccine: A phase IV, open-labeled, parallel-controlled observational study.

BACKGROUND: Sabin strain inactivated poliovirus vaccine (hereinafter as "sIPV") has been marketed globally in recent years, and more data on its immune persistence are needed. METHODS: This is a phase IV, open-labeled, parallel-controlled observational study based on phase III clinical trial as required by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). At least 450 subjects aged four years (48-54 months) who received four doses at 2, 3, 4 and 18 months of age of sIPV or wild strain poliovirus vaccine (wIPV) in phase III clinical trial enrolled at a 2:1 ratio and collected blood samples for neutralizing antibody testing. RESULTS: A total of 500 subjects of four years old (334 in the sIPV group and 166 in wIPV group) were finally enrolled. The seropositivity rates (≥1:8) of neutralizing antibodies against serotype I-III were all 100.00% in all participants, and the geometric mean titers (GMT) were 1117.33 vs. 337.77 against serotype I, 632.72 vs. 267.34 against serotype Ⅱ, 1665.98 vs. 923.02 against serotype III in the sIPV group and wIPV group respectively at 4 years old. The seropositivity rates and GMTs of neutralizing antibodies in the test group were non-inferior to that of the control group against all three serotypes at different time points (P < 0.0001). The antibody GMT experienced a 10-fold, 8-fold, and 7-fold decline for serotypes I, Ⅱ, and III in the sIPV group, and a 13-fold, 7-fold, and 7-fold decline in the wIPV group from one month after booster vaccination to 4 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The neutralizing antibody level is much higher than the seroprotection cutoff (≥1:8) among children of 4 years old who completed the four-dose vaccination of either sIPV or wIPV. Therefore, another booster vaccination is not recommended at 4 years old. Longer immune persistence observation is still ongoing. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04989231.

Safety and immunogenicity of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV, intramuscular Ad5-nCoV, or inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac given as the second booster following three doses of CoronaVac: a multicentre, open-label, phase 4, randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Aerosolised Ad5-nCoV is the first approved mucosal respiratory COVID-19 vaccine to be used as a booster after the primary immunisation with COVID-19 vaccines. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV, intramuscular Ad5-nCoV, or inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac given as the second booster. METHODS: This is an open-label, parallel-controlled, phase 4 randomised trial enrolling healthy adult participants (≥18 years) who had completed a two-dose primary immunisation and a booster immunisation with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (CoronaVac only) at least 6 months before, in Lianshui and Donghai counties, Jiangsu Province, China. We recruited eligible participants from previous trials in China (NCT04892459, NCT04952727, and NCT05043259) as cohort 1 (with the serum before and after the first booster dose available), and from eligible volunteers in Lianshui and Donghai counties, Jiangsu Province, as cohort 2. Participants were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1:1, using a web-based interactive response randomisation system, to receive the fourth dose (second booster) of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV (0·1 mL of 1·0 × 1011 viral particles per mL), intramuscular Ad5-nCoV (0·5 mL of 1·0 × 1011 viral particles per mL), or inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac (0·5 mL), respectively. The co-primary outcomes were safety and immunogenicity of geometric mean titres (GMTs) of serum neutralising antibodies against prototype live SARS-CoV-2 virus 28 days after the vaccination, assessed on a per-protocol basis. Non-inferiority or superiority was achieved when the lower limit of the 95% CI of the GMT ratio (heterologous group vs homologous group) exceeded 0·67 or 1·0, respectively. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05303584 and is ongoing. FINDINGS: Between April 23 and May 23, 2022, from 367 volunteers screened for eligibility, 356 participants met eligibility criteria and received a dose of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV (n=117), intramuscular Ad5-nCoV (n=120), or CoronaVac (n=119). Within 28 days of booster vaccination, participants in the intramuscular Ad5-nCoV group reported a significantly higher frequency of adverse reactions than those in the aerosolised Ad5-nCoV and intramuscular CoronaVac groups (30% vs 9% and 14%, respectively; p<0·0001). No serious adverse events related to the vaccination were reported. The heterologous boosting with aerosolised Ad5-nCoV triggered a GMT of 672·4 (95% CI 539·7-837·7) and intramuscular Ad5-nCoV triggered a serum neutralising antibody GMT of 582·6 (505·0-672·2) 28 days after the booster dose, both of which were significantly higher than the GMT in the CoronaVac group (58·5 [48·0-71·4]; p<0·0001). INTERPRETATION: A heterologous fourth dose (second booster) with either aerosolised Ad5-nCoV or intramuscular Ad5-nCoV was safe and highly immunogenic in healthy adults who had been immunised with three doses of CoronaVac. FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Jiangsu Provincial Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and Jiangsu Provincial Key Project of Science and Technology Plan.

Antibody persistence and safety after heterologous boosting with orally aerosolised Ad5-nCoV in individuals primed with two-dose CoronaVac previously: 12-month analyses of a randomized controlled trial.

Antibody persistence and safety up to 12 months of heterologous orally administered adenovirus type-5 vector-based COVID-19 vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) in individuals who were primed with two-dose inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) previously, has not been reported yet. This randomized, open-label, single-centre trial included Chinese adults who have received two-dose CoronaVac randomized to low-dose or high-dose aerosolised Ad5-nCoV group, or CoronaVac group. In this report, we mainly evaluated the geometric mean titres (GMTs) of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against live wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus and omicron BA.4/5 pseudovirus at 12 months after the booster dose and the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs) till month 12. Of 419 participants, all were included in the safety analysis and 120 (28.64%) were included in the immunogenicity analysis. Serum NAb GMT against live wild-type SARS-CoV-2 was 204.36 (95% CI 152.91, 273.14) in the low-dose group and 171.38 (95% CI 121.27, 242.19) in the high-dose group at month 12, significantly higher than the GMT in the CoronaVac group (8.00 [95% CI 4.22, 15.17], p < 0.0001). Serum NAb GMT against omicron BA.4/5 pseudovirus was 40.97 (95% CI 30.15, 55.67) in the low-dose group and 35.08 (95% CI 26.31, 46.77) in the high-dose group at month 12, whereas the GMT in the CoronaVac group was below the lower limit of detection. No vaccine-related SAEs were observed. Orally administered aerosolised Ad5-nCoV following two-dose CoronaVac priming has a good safety profile and is persistently more immunogenic than three-dose CoronaVac within 12 months after the booster dose.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05043259..

Lot-to-lot consistency, immunogenicity, and safety of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) in healthy adults: A randomized, double-blind, phase IV trial.

Previous phase I to III clinical trials have shown that the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine namely CoronaVac has good efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity. This phase IV trial aims to evaluate the lot-to-lot consistency, immunogenicity, and safety on a commercial scale in healthy adults, which could provide data to support stable manufacturing. In this single-center, randomized, double-blind study, 1,080 healthy adults aged 26-45 years were randomly assigned into three groups to receive one of three lots of vaccines. All subjects received two doses of CoronaVac with an interval of 28 days. Serum samples were collected before the first dose and 28 days after the second dose to assess the immunogenicity. Solicited local and systemic adverse events (AEs) within 7 days and unsolicited AEs within 28 days after each dose of vaccination were recorded. A total of 1,039 participants completed the study and were included in the per-protocol set (PPS). The GMTs were 75.2 (68.5,82.6), 65.0 (59.0,71.7), and 65.3 (59.4,71.8), respectively, and the seroconversion rates of neutralizing antibody were all higher than 98%. The GMT ratios of each pair of lots were 1.16 (1.01,1.32), 1.15 (1.01, 1.32), and 0.99 (0.87, 1.14), respectively, meeting the immunological equivalence criteria. The incidence rates of adverse reactions (ARs) were 19.17%, 13.89%, and 18.33%, with no statistical difference. The ARs were all in grade 1 and grade 2, with incidences of 15.46% and 2.50%. Non-vaccine-related serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported. These results showed robust lot-to-lot consistency, immunogenicity, and safety. The stable production indicated that CoronaVac is suitable for large-scale use.Trial registration number: NCT04894227 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Batch-to-batch consistency trial of an adenovirus type-5 vector-based COVID-19 vaccine in adults aged 18 years and above.

BACKGROUND: The demonstration of batch-to-batch consistency is indispensable for quality control of vaccines. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial to evaluate the immunogenicity consistency of a single shot of Ad5-nCoV in healthy adults who had not previously received any COVID-19 vaccine. All eligible participants were randomly assigned equally to receive one of the three consecutive batches of Ad5-nCoV (5 × 1010 viral particles/vial, 0.5 mL). The primary endpoint was geometric mean titers (GMTs) of serum SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific IgG on day 28 post-vaccination. RESULTS: One thousand fifty participants were enrolled, with 350 (33%) participants per group. On day 28 post-vaccination, GMTs in three groups were 78.3 binding antibody units (BAU)/mL (95% CI 70.3-87.3), 82.9 BAU/mL (73.9-92.9), and 78.8 BAU/mL (70.2-88.4), respectively. The two-sided 95% CIs for the GMT ratios between each pair of batches were all between 0.67 and 1.5. The highest incidence of solicited adverse reactions within 7 days post-vaccination was reported by batch 3 recipients (23.1% versus 15.1% in batch 1 recipients and 14.6% in bath 2 recipients; p = 0.0039). None of the serious adverse events were related to vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Immunogenicity consistency between consecutive batches of Ad5-nCoV was well established in adults. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05313646).