Immunogenicity and safety of Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine at predicted intermediate- and end-of-shelf-life as an evaluation of potency throughout shelf life.

This study assessed three Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein combinations, combining different Ad26.RSV.preF doses and naturally aged preF protein, representing the expected critical vaccine quality attributes close to release, around intermediate shelf-life (ISL) and near-presumed end-of-shelf-life (EoSL), as a way to evaluate the vaccine immunogenicity and safety throughout its shelf-life. A single dose of Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine was administered to adults 60-75 years of age. Solicited adverse events (AEs), unsolicited AEs, and serious AEs (SAEs) were assessed for 7-day, 28-day, and 6-month periods after vaccination, respectively. RSV preF-binding antibody concentrations and RSV neutralizing titers were measured 14 days post-vaccination as primary and secondary endpoints, respectively; binding antibodies were also measured 6 months post-vaccination. The RSV preF-binding antibody responses induced by Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine lots representing the critical quality attributes around ISL and near presumed EoSL were noninferior to the responses induced by the vaccine lot representing the critical quality attributes near release. The RSV preF-binding and RSV neutralizing antibody levels measured 14 days post-vaccination were similar across the 3 groups. RSV preF-binding antibody concentrations were also similar 6 months post-vaccination. Solicited AEs were mostly mild to moderate in intensity, and a decreased reactogenicity was observed from the Release group to the ISL and EoSL group. None of the reported SAEs were considered related to study vaccination. The study provided evidence of sustained immunogenicity and safety over the intended shelf-life of the Ad26.RSV.pref/RSV preF protein vaccine. The three vaccine lots had acceptable safety profiles.

Long-term efficacy and immunogenicity of Ad26.RSV.preF-RSV preF protein vaccine (CYPRESS): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b study.

BACKGROUND: Ad26.RSV.preF-RSV preF protein showed 80·0% vaccine efficacy against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in older adults during one RSV season. No RSV vaccines have shown three-season efficacy. We aimed to evaluate efficacy of Ad26.RSV.preF-RSV preF protein over three RSV seasons. METHODS: CYPRESS was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b study done at 40 US clinical research centres wherein adults aged 65 years or older were centrally randomly assigned 1:1 by computer algorithm to receive Ad26.RSV.preF-RSV preF protein or placebo (one intramuscular injection) on day 1. Investigators, participants, site personnel, and the sponsor were masked to vaccine allocation, except for individuals involved in preparation of study vaccinations. The primary endpoint (first occurrence of RSV-mediated LRTD meeting one of three case definitions) was previously reported. Here, the predefined exploratory endpoint of vaccine efficacy against RSV-positive LRTD was assessed in the per-protocol efficacy set (all participants randomly assigned and vaccinated without protocol deviations affecting efficacy) through season 1 and from day 365 until the end of season 3. Humoral and cellular immunogenicity was assessed in a subset of randomly assigned and vaccinated participants. The secondary endpoint of safety through the first RSV season was previously reported; follow-up for selected safety outcomes (fatal adverse events, adverse events leading to study discontinuation, serious adverse events, and vaccine-related serious adverse events) until study completion is reported here in all randomly assigned and vaccinated participants. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03982199 and is complete. FINDINGS: Of 6672 adults screened, 5782 participants (2891 each receiving vaccine or placebo) were enrolled and vaccinated between Aug 5 and Nov 13, 2019. The season 2 per-protocol efficacy set included 2124 vaccine recipients and 2126 placebo recipients (season 3: 864 and 881; across three seasons: 2795 and 2803, respectively). Vaccine efficacy against RSV LRTD was 76·1% (95% CI 26·9-94·2) over seasons 2 and 3 and 78·7% (57·3-90·4) across three seasons. For those in the immunogenicity subset (vaccine n=97; placebo n=98), immune responses remained above baseline for at least 1 year. Serious adverse events occurred in 47 (2·1%) and 12 (1·3%) vaccine recipients and 45 (2·1%) and 10 (1·1%) placebo recipients during seasons 2 and 3, respectively. No treatment-related serious or fatal adverse events were reported. INTERPRETATION: Ad26.RSV.preF-RSV preF protein maintained high efficacy against RSV LRTD in older adults across three RSV seasons. FUNDING: Janssen Vaccines & Prevention.

High inter-individual variability of serum xanthine oxidoreductase activity in IBD patients.

OBJECTIVES: Thiopurines play an essential role in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD, i.e. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). Over the past decade, several strategies to optimize treatment with thiopurines have been evaluated, including co-administration of allopurinol, a xanthine-oxidoreductase (XO) inhibitor, to low-dose thiopurine therapy. We aimed to assess the inter-individual variability of XO-activity between IBD-patients. METHODS: We assessed XO activity in serum of IBD-patients of two medical centers in The Netherlands using the Amplex® Red Xanthine/Xanthine Oxidase Assay Kit, which measures the superoxide formation in a coupled reaction to the red-fluorescent oxidation product, resofurine. RESULTS: We observed a high inter-individual variability of XO-activity in 119 patients, with a median activity of 16 µU/ml/hour (range 1-85 µU/ml/hour). The XO-activity was influenced by gender (male 19.5 vs. female 14.0 µU/ml/hour, p < 0.01), patient's age (Pearson's correlation r = 0.21, p = 0.02) and duration of IBD (r = 0.23, p = 0.01). The XO activity was not affected by the type of IBD, smoking status, body mass index or (type of) thiopurine use (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high inter-individual variability of XO-activity in IBD-patients; XO-activity is positively associated with male gender and patient's age.