Safety and immunogenicity of a replication-deficient H5N1 influenza virus vaccine lacking NS1.

BACKGROUND: Traditional inactivated influenza vaccines are the type of vaccines that were most frequently developed for immunization against the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza virus. However, clinical trials with inactivated influenza vaccines for H5N1 indicated that high doses and at least two immunizations are required for an effective immune response (Nicholson et al., 2001; Treanor, Campbell et al., 2006; Treanor, Schiff et al., 2006; Ehrlich et al., 2008). We investigated the safety and immunogenicity of a live attenuated H5N1 vaccine (delNS1-H5N1) lacking the interferon antagonist nonstructural protein 1 (NS1). METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 study in healthy adult participants who were randomly assigned at a 2:1 ratio to receive two immunizations of delNS1-H5N1 vaccine at 6.8 log10 50% tissue culture infectious doses (TCID50)/subject or 7.5 log10 TCID50/subject, or placebo. RESULTS: Intranasal vaccination with the live attenuated delNS1-H5N1 vaccine was safe and well tolerated. The most common adverse events identified were symptoms associated with mild influenza infections, such as increased body temperature (>37.0 °C), pharyngeal erythema, rhinitis and throat irritation, and were reported within 7 days after the first immunization. delNS1-H5N1 was able to induce significant vaccine-specific serum antibody titers even at the lower dose level of 6.8 log10 TCID50/subject. Seroconversion occurred in 75% of study participants after only one immunization with 7.5 log10 TCID50/subject. Vaccine-specific local IgA responses were observed in 41.7% of individuals that showed serum antibody responses after 2nd immunization. CONCLUSIONS: We show that vaccination with a live attenuated H5N1 influenza vaccine lacking NS1 is safe and induces significant levels of vaccine-specific antibodies even after one immunization. The safety and immunogenicity data indicate that delNS1-H5N1 has the potential to fulfil the unmet need for an effective influenza vaccine in pandemic situations. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03745274).

Phase I/II trial of a replication-deficient trivalent influenza virus vaccine lacking NS1.

BACKGROUND: The non-structural protein NS1 of the influenza virus counteracts the interferon-mediated immune response of the host. We investigated the safety and immunogenicity of a trivalent formulation containing influenza H1N1, H3N2 and B strains lacking NS1 (delNS1-trivalent). METHODS: Healthy adult study participants who were seronegative for at least one strain present in the vaccine formulation were randomized to receive a single intranasal dose of delNS1-trivalent vaccine at 7.0log10 TCID50/subject (n=39) or placebo (n=41). RESULTS: Intranasal vaccination with the live replication-deficient delNS1-trivalent vaccine was well tolerated with no treatment-related serious adverse events. The most common adverse events identified, i.e. headache, oropharyngeal pain and rhinitis-like symptoms, were mainly mild and transient and distributed similarly in the treatment and placebo groups. Significant vaccine-specific immune responses were induced. Pre-existing low antibody titers or seronegativity for the corresponding vaccine strain yielded better response rates. CONCLUSIONS: We show that vaccination with a replication-deficient trivalent influenza vaccine containing H1N1, H3N2 and B strains lacking NS1 is safe and induces significant levels of antibodies (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01369862).

A novel type of influenza vaccine: safety and immunogenicity of replication-deficient influenza virus created by deletion of the interferon antagonist NS1.

BACKGROUND. The nonstructural protein NS1 of influenza virus counteracts the interferon-mediated immune response of the host. By deleting the open reading frame of NS1, we have generated a novel type of influenza vaccine. We studied the safety and immunogenicity of an influenza strain lacking the NS1 gene (DeltaNS1-H1N1) in healthy volunteers. METHODS. Healthy seronegative adult volunteers were randomized to receive either a single intranasal dose of the DeltaNS1-H1N1 A/New Caledonia vaccine at 1 of 5 dose levels (6.4, 6.7, 7.0, 7.4, and 7.7 log(10) median tissue culture infective dose) (n = 36 recipients) or placebo (n = 12 recipients). RESULTS. Intranasal vaccination with the replication-deficient DeltaNS1-H1N1 vaccine was well tolerated. Rhinitis-like symptoms and headache were the most common adverse events identified during the 28-day observation period. Adverse events were similarly distributed between the treatment and placebo groups. Vaccine-specific local and serum antibodies were induced in a dose-dependent manner. In the highest dose group, vaccine-specific antibodies were detected in 10 of 12 volunteers. Importantly, the vaccine also induced neutralizing antibodies against heterologous drift variants. CONCLUSIONS. We show that vaccination with an influenza virus strain lacking the viral interferon antagonist NS1 induces statistically significant levels of strain-specific and cross-neutralizing antibodies despite the highly attenuated replication-deficient phenotype. Further studies are warranted to determine whether these results translate into protection from influenza virus infection. TRIAL REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00724997 .