Safety and immunogenicity of meningococcal (Groups A and C) polysaccharide vaccine in children 2 to 6 y of age in China: a randomized, active-controlled, non-inferiority study.

Meningococcal serogroups A and C cause significant numbers of cases in China. The Sanofi Pasteur meningococcal polysaccharide A + C vaccine (Men-AC) was licensed in China in 1995. Immunogenicity and safety of a single dose of Men-AC against a similar marketed vaccine, the Lanzhou Institute serogroups A and C vaccine (Lanzhou-AC), were evaluated in children 2 to 6 y of age. Antibody titers were determined before and on Day 30 after vaccination using a serum bactericidal assay using baby rabbit complement (SBA-BR). Immunogenicity endpoints included rates of seroconversion (postvaccination antibody titers ≥4-fold higher) and seroprotection (postvaccination titers ≥1:8). Unsolicited systemic adverse events (AEs) within 30 minutes after vaccination, solicited injection site and systemic reactions between Days 0 and 7, unsolicited non-serious AEs within 30 d, and serious adverse events (SAEs) throughout were recorded. Seroconversion rates against serogroups A and C were 97.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.5-98.6) and 94.7% (95% CI, 91.6-97.0), respectively, in the Men-AC group and 97.7% (95% CI, 95.4-99.1) and 94.8% (95% CI, 91.7-97.0), respectively, in the Lanzhou-AC group, while seroprotection rates were 98.0% (95% CI, 95.8-99.3) and 97.0% (95% CI, 94.5-98.6), respectively, in the Men-AC group and 99.0% (95% CI, 97.2-99.8) and 96.8% (95% CI, 94.1-98.4), respectively, in the Lanzhou-AC group. Non-inferiority of Men-AC with regard to immunogenicity was demonstrated since the lower bounds of the 95% CIs of the differences in rates between the two groups were > -5% for both serogroups. Both vaccines were well tolerated.

In vivo blockade of OX40 ligand inhibits thymic stromal lymphopoietin driven atopic inflammation.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) potently induces deregulation of Th2 responses, a hallmark feature of allergic inflammatory diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis. However, direct downstream in vivo mediators in the TSLP-induced atopic immune cascade have not been identified. In our current study, we have shown that OX40 ligand (OX40L) is a critical in vivo mediator of TSLP-mediated Th2 responses. Treating mice with OX40L-blocking antibodies substantially inhibited immune responses induced by TSLP in the lung and skin, including Th2 inflammatory cell infiltration, cytokine secretion, and IgE production. OX40L-blocking antibodies also inhibited antigen-driven Th2 inflammation in mouse and nonhuman primate models of asthma. This treatment resulted in both blockade of the OX40-OX40L receptor-ligand interaction and depletion of OX40L-positive cells. The use of a blocking, OX40L-specific mAb thus presents a promising strategy for the treatment of allergic diseases associated with pathologic Th2 immune responses.

Immunogenicity and safety of a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine produced in Shenzhen, China versus a comparator influenza vaccine: a phase IV randomized study.

Seasonal influenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality in China, which largely results from limited vaccine accessibility and poor vaccination coverage. Since 2013, Sanofi Pasteur's facilities in Shenzhen, China have produced a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (Shz-IIV3) for each influenza season according to Chinese pharmacopeia requirements. However, the immunogenicity of Shz-IIV3 has not been compared to existing Chinese trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV3s). Here, we describe the results of a phase IV, observer-blind, randomized study to evaluate whether the immunogenicity of Shz-IIV3 was non-inferior to a comparator IIV3 (Hualan Biological Engineering Inc) also manufactured and licensed in China. Healthy adults aged 18-59 years were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive a single 0.5-mL intramuscular injection of the 2017-2018 Northern Hemisphere formulation of Shz-IIV3 (n = 800) or the comparator IIV3 (n = 799). Between baseline and day 28 after vaccination, hemagglutination inhibition titers for the three vaccine strains increased by at least 4-fold and were of similar magnitude in Shz-IIV3 and comparator IIV3 recipients. The rate of seroconversion or significant increase in titers was 62% to 92% in Shz-IIV3 recipients, and 63% to 91% in comparator IIV3 recipients. Post-vaccination hemagglutination inhibition titers and seroconversion rates for Shz-IIV3 were statistically non-inferior to the comparator IIV3 for all three influenza vaccine strains. Rates of solicited and unsolicited vaccine-related adverse events were similar between the two vaccine groups. These results demonstrated that Shz-IIV3 was as immunogenic and safe in adults as a comparator Chinese IIV3, and support the continued use of Shz-IIV3 in China.

Immunogenicity of Two Different Sequential Schedules of Inactivated Polio Vaccine Followed by Oral Polio Vaccine Versus Oral Polio Vaccine Alone in Healthy Infants in China.

BACKGROUND: Two vaccination schedules where inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was followed by oral polio vaccine (OPV) were compared to an OPV-only schedule. METHODS: Healthy Chinese infants received a 3-dose primary series of IPV-OPV-OPV (Group A), IPV-IPV-OPV (Group B), or OPV-OPV-OPV (Group C) at 2, 3, and 4 months of age. At pre-Dose 1, 1-month, and 14-months post-Dose 3, polio 1, 2, and 3 antibody titers were assessed by virus-neutralizing antibody assay with Sabin or wild-type strains. Adverse events were monitored. RESULTS: Anti-polio 1, 2, and 3 titers were ≥8 (1/dil) in >99% of participants, and Group A and Group B were noninferior to Group C at 1-month post-Dose 3 as assessed by Sabin strain-based assay (SSBA). In Group A 1-month post-Dose 3, there was no geometric mean antibody titers (GMT) differences for types 1 and 3; type 2 GMTs were ≈3-fold higher by wild-type strain-based assay (WTBA) versus SSBA. For Group B, GMTs were ≈1.7- and 3.6-fold higher for types 1 and 2 via WTBA, while type 3 GMTs were similar. For Group C, GMTs were ≈6.3- and 2-fold higher for types 1 and 3 with SSBA, and type 2 GMTs were similar. Antibodies persisted in >96.6% of participants. Adverse event incidence in each group was similar. CONCLUSIONS: A primary series of 1 or 2 IPV doses followed by 2 or 1 OPV doses was immunogenic and noninferior to an OPV-only arm. SSBA was better at detecting antibodies elicited by OPV with antibody titers correlated to the number of OPV doses (NCT01475539).

Targeted depletion of lymphotoxin-alpha-expressing TH1 and TH17 cells inhibits autoimmune disease.

Uncontrolled T helper type 1 (T(H)1) and T(H)17 cells are associated with autoimmune responses. We identify surface lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha) as common to T(H)0, T(H)1 and T(H)17 cells and employ a unique strategy to target these subsets using a depleting monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed to surface LT-alpha. Depleting LT-alpha-specific mAb inhibited T cell-mediated models of delayed-type hypersensitivity and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), preventive and therapeutic administration of LT-alpha-specific mAb inhibited disease, and immunoablated T cells expressing interleukin-17 (IL-17), interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), whereas decoy lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LT-betaR) fusion protein had no effect. A mutation in the Fc tail, rendering the antibody incapable of Fcgamma receptor binding and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity, abolished all in vivo effects. Efficacy in CIA was preceded by a loss of rheumatoid-associated cytokines IL-6, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha within joints. These data indicate that depleting LT-alpha-expressing lymphocytes with LT-alpha-specific mAb may be beneficial in the treatment of autoimmune disease.

Anti-BR3 antibodies: a new class of B-cell immunotherapy combining cellular depletion and survival blockade.

Removal of pathogenic B lymphocytes by depletion of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or deprivation of B-cell survival factors has demonstrated clinical benefit in both oncologic and immunologic diseases. Partial clinical responses and emerging data demonstrating incomplete B-cell depletion after immunotherapy fuels the need for improved therapeutic modalities. Lessons from the first generation of therapeutics directed against B-cell-specific antigens (CD20, CD22) are being applied to develop novel antibodies with additional functional attributes. We describe the generation of a novel class of B-cell-directed therapy (anti-BR3 mAbs) that combines the depleting capacity of a therapeutic mAb and blockade of B-cell-activating factor (BAFF)-BR3 B-cell survival. In mice, treatment with antagonistic anti-BR3 antibodies results in quantitatively greater reduction in some B-cell subsets and qualitatively different effects on bone marrow plasma cells compared with BR3-Fc BAFF blockade or with anti-CD20 treatment. Comparative analysis of BR3-Fc and anti-BR3 mAb reveals a lower B-cell dependence for BAFF-mediated survival in nonhuman primates than in mice. This novel class of B-cell-targeted therapies shows species characteristics in mice and primates that will guide translation to treatment of human disease.