Background

This United States-based study compared 2 candidate vaccines: RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L, attenuated by NS2 gene-deletion and temperature-sensitivity mutation in the polymerase gene; and RSV/276, attenuated by M2-2 deletion.

Methods

RSV-seronegative children aged 6-24 months received RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L (106 plaque-forming units [PFU]), RSV/276 (105 PFU), or placebo intranasally. Participants were monitored for vaccine shedding, reactogenicity, and RSV serum antibodies, and followed over the subsequent RSV season.

Results

Enrollment occurred September 2017 to October 2019. During 28 days postinoculation, upper respiratory illness and/or fever occurred in 64% of RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L, 84% of RSV/276, and 58% of placebo recipients. Symptoms were generally mild. Cough was more common in RSV/276 recipients than RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L (48% vs 12%; P = .012) or placebo recipients (17%; P = .084). There were no lower respiratory illness or serious adverse events. Eighty-eight and 96% of RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L and RSV/276 recipients were infected with vaccine (shed vaccine and/or had ≥4-fold rises in RSV antibodies). Serum RSV-neutralizing titers and anti-RSV F IgG titers increased ≥4-fold in 60% and 92% of RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L and RSV/276 vaccinees, respectively. Exposure to community RSV during the subsequent winter was associated with strong anamnestic RSV-antibody responses.

Conclusions

Both vaccines had excellent infectivity and were well tolerated. RSV/276 induced an excess of mild cough. Both vaccines were immunogenic and primed for strong anamnestic responses.

Clinical trials registration

NCT03227029 and NCT03422237.

Background

The live respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) candidate vaccine LIDcpΔM2-2 is attenuated through deletion of M2-2 and 5 cold-passage mutations.

Methods

RSV-seronegative children aged 6-24 months received a single intranasal dose of 10⁵ plaque-forming units (PFU) of LIDcpΔM2-2 or placebo. RSV serum antibodies, vaccine infectivity, and reactogenicity were assessed.

Results

Four of 11 (36%) vaccinees shed vaccine virus with median peak titers of 1.6 log₁₀ PFU/mL by quantitative culture and 4.5 log₁₀ copies/mL by polymerase chain reaction; 45% had ≥4-fold rise in serum-neutralizing antibodies. Respiratory symptoms or fever were common in vaccinees (64%) and placebo recipients (6/6, 100%).

Conclusions

RSV LIDcpΔM2-2 is overattenuated. Clinical Trial Numbers. NCT02890381, NCT02948127.

Background

The safety and immunogenicity of live respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) candidate vaccine, LID/ΔM2-2/1030s, with deletion of RSV ribonucleic acid synthesis regulatory protein M2-2 and genetically stabilized temperature-sensitivity mutation 1030s in the RSV polymerase protein was evaluated in RSV-seronegative children.

Methods

Respiratory syncytial virus-seronegative children ages 6-24 months received 1 intranasal dose of 105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of LID/ΔM2-2/1030s (n = 21) or placebo (n = 11). The RSV serum antibodies, vaccine shedding, and reactogenicity were assessed. During the following RSV season, medically attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI) and pre- and postsurveillance serum antibody titers were monitored.

Results

Eighty-five percent of vaccinees shed LID/ΔM2-2/1030s vaccine (median peak nasal wash titers: 3.1 log10 PFU/mL by immunoplaque assay; 5.1 log10 copies/mL by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction) and had ≥4-fold rise in serum-neutralizing antibodies. Respiratory symptoms and fever were common (60% vaccinees and 27% placebo recipients). One vaccinee had grade 2 wheezing with rhinovirus but without concurrent LID/ΔM2-2/1030s shedding. Five of 19 vaccinees had ≥4-fold increases in antibody titers postsurveillance without RSV-MAARI, indicating anamnestic responses without significant illness after infection with community-acquired RSV.

Conclusions

LID/ΔM2-2/1030s had excellent infectivity without evidence of genetic instability, induced durable immunity, and primed for anamnestic antibody responses, making it an attractive candidate for further evaluation.

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading viral cause of severe pediatric respiratory illness, and vaccines are needed. Live RSV vaccine D46/NS2/N/ΔM2-2-HindIII, attenuated by deletion of the RSV RNA regulatory protein M2-2, is based on previous candidate LID/ΔM2-2 but incorporates prominent differences from MEDI/ΔM2-2, which was more restricted in replication in phase 1.

Methods

RSV-seronegative children aged 6-24 months received 1 intranasal dose (105 plaque-forming units [PFUs] of D46/NS2/N/ΔM2-2-HindIII [n = 21] or placebo [n = 11]) and were monitored for vaccine shedding, reactogenicity, RSV-antibody responses and RSV-associated medically attended acute respiratory illness (RSV-MAARI) and antibody responses during the following RSV season.

Results

All 21 vaccinees were infected with vaccine; 20 (95%) shed vaccine (median peak titer, 3.5 log10 PFUs/mL with immunoplaque assay and 6.1 log10 copies/mL with polymerase chain reaction). Serum RSV-neutralizing antibodies and anti-RSV fusion immunoglobulin G increased ≥4-fold in 95% and 100% of vaccines, respectively. Mild upper respiratory tract symptoms and/or fever occurred in vaccinees (76%) and placebo recipients (18%). Over the RSV season, RSV-MAARI occurred in 2 vaccinees and 4 placebo recipients. Three vaccinees had ≥4-fold increases in serum RSV-neutralizing antibody titers after the RSV season without RSV-MAARI.

Conclusions

D46/NS2/N/ΔM2-2-HindIII had excellent infectivity and immunogenicity and primed vaccine recipients for anamnestic responses, encouraging further evaluation of this attenuation strategy.

Clinical trials registration

NCT03102034 and NCT03099291.

Background

Live respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) candidate vaccine LIDΔM2-2 is attenuated by deletion of the RSV RNA regulatory protein M2-2, resulting in upregulated viral gene transcription and antigen expression but reduced RNA replication.

Methods

RSV-seronegative children ages 6-24 months received a single intranasal dose of 105 plaque forming units (PFU) of LIDΔM2-2 (n = 20) or placebo (n = 9) (NCT02237209, NCT02040831). RSV serum antibodies, vaccine infectivity, and reactogenicity were assessed. During the following RSV season, participants were monitored for respiratory illness and pre- and post-RSV season serum antibodies.

Results

Vaccine virus was shed by 95% of vaccinees (median peak titers of 3.8 log10 PFU/mL by quantitative culture and 6.3 log10 copies/mL by PCR); 90% had ≥4-fold rise in serum neutralizing antibodies. Respiratory symptoms and fever were common in vaccine (95%) and placebo (78%). One vaccinee had grade 2 rhonchi concurrent with vaccine shedding, rhinovirus, and enterovirus. Eight of 19 vaccinees versus 2 of 9 placebo recipients had substantially increased RSV antibody titers after the RSV season without medically attended RSV disease, indicating anamnestic vaccine responses to wild-type RSV without significant illness.

Conclusion

LIDΔM2-2 had excellent infectivity and immunogenicity, encouraging further study of vaccine candidates attenuated by M2-2 deletion.

Clinical trials registration

NCT02237209, NCT02040831.

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important viral cause of severe respiratory illness in young children and lacks a vaccine. RSV cold-passage/stabilized 2 (RSVcps2) is a modification of a previously evaluated vaccine candidate in which 2 major attenuating mutations have been stabilized against deattenuation.

Methods

RSV-seronegative 6-24-month-old children received an intranasal dose of 105.3 plaque-forming units (PFU) of RSVcps2 (n = 34) or placebo (n = 16) (International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials protocol P1114 and companion protocol CIR285). RSV serum neutralizing antibody titers before and 56 days after vaccination, vaccine virus infectivity (defined as vaccine virus shedding detectable in nasal wash and/or a ≥4-fold rise in serum antibodies), reactogenicity, and genetic stability were assessed. During the following RSV transmission season, participants were monitored for respiratory illness, with serum antibody titers measured before and after the season.

Results

A total of 85% of vaccinees were infected with RSVcps2 (median peak titer, 0.5 log10 PFU/mL by culture and 2.9 log10 copies/mL by polymerase chain reaction analysis); 77% shed vaccine virus, and 59% developed a ≥4-fold rise in RSV-serum neutralizing antibody titers. Respiratory tract and/or febrile illness occurred at the same rate (50%) in the vaccine and placebo groups. Deattenuation was not detected at either of 2 stabilized mutation sites.

Conclusions

RSVcps2 was well tolerated and moderately immunogenic and had increased genetic stability in 6-24-month-old RSV-seronegative children.

Clinical trials registration

NCT01852266 and NCT01968083.