BACKGROUND:Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare adverse event identified following vaccination with some adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccines, including Ad26.COV2.S. VITT is characterized by the presence of antibodies against platelet factor 4 (PF4). OBJECTIVES:To evaluate whether PF4 antibodies were generally induced following vaccination with adenovirus type 26 (Ad26)-vectored vaccines. METHODS:The study included 913 and 991 healthy participants without thromboembolic (TE) events in Ad26.COV2.S and non-COVID-19 Ad26-vectored vaccine clinical studies, respectively, and 1 participant with VITT following Ad26.COV2.S vaccination. PF4 antibody levels were measured in prevaccination and postvaccination sera. PF4 antibody positivity rates were assessed in a case-control setting in participants who developed TE events during participation in Ad26-vectored vaccine clinical studies. RESULTS:In the 1 VITT patient, PF4 antibodies were negative before vaccination. Seroconversion for platelet-activating PF4 antibodies was observed upon Ad26.COV2.S vaccination. In participants without TE events, the PF4 antibody levels and positivity rates were similar before and after Ad26 vaccination. Ad26 vaccination did not increase PF4 antibody levels in participants who were PF4 antibody-positive at baseline (n = 47). Lastly, 1 out of 28 TE cases and 2 out of 156 non-TE controls seroconverted after Ad26.COV2.S vaccination. None of the 15 TE cases and 3 of the 77 non-TE controls seroconverted following non-COVID-19 Ad26 vaccination. CONCLUSION:Ad26.COV2.S and the other Ad26-vectored vaccines studied did not generally induce PF4 antibodies or increase preexisting PF4 antibody levels. Moreover, unlike VITT, TE events that occurred at any time following Ad26 vaccination were not associated with PF4 antibodies.

Background. Ad26.RSV.preF is an adenovirus serotype 26 vector-based respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine encoding a prefusion conformation-stabilized RSV fusion protein (preF) that demonstrated robust humoral and cellular immunogenicity and showed promising efficacy in a human challenge study in younger adults. Addition of recombinant RSV preF protein might enhance RSV-specific humoral immune responses, especially in older populations. Methods. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2a study compared the safety and immunogenicity of Ad26.RSV.preF alone and varying doses of Ad26.RSV.preF-RSV preF protein combinations in adults aged >= 60 years. This report includes data from cohort 1 (initial safety, n = 64) and cohort 2 (regimen selection, n = 288). Primary immunogenicity and safety analyses were performed 28 days postvaccination (cohort 2) for regimen selection. Results. All vaccine regimens were well tolerated, with similar reactogenicity profiles among them. Combination regimens induced greater humoral immune responses (virus-neutralizing and preF-specific binding antibodies) and similar cellular ones (RSV-F-specific T cells) as compared with Ad26.RSV.preF alone. Vaccine-induced immune responses remained above baseline up to 1.5 years postvaccination. Conclusions. All Ad26.RSV.preF-based regimens were well tolerated. A combination regimen comprising Ad26.RSV.preF, which elicits strong humoral and cellular responses, and RSV preF protein, which increases humoral responses, was selected for further development.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe illness in older adults. A combination vaccine containing Ad26.RSV.preF and purified recombinant RSV preF protein has previously demonstrated efficacy and tolerability in older adults. We report results of a dose-ranging study to determine immunogenicity and safety of different doses of the Ad26.RSV.preF component in the combined Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine to support Ad26.RSV.preF drug product release and stability specifications. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2a study, adults aged >= 60 years in good or stable health were randomly assigned within 1 of 3 cohorts to receive either placebo or Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein, composed of different doses of Ad26.RSV.preF with a fixed dose of RSV preF protein (150 mu g). Ad26.RSV.preF doses in Cohort 1 (4 dose-down groups) ranged from 3.7 x 10(9) to 1.0 x 10(11) viral particles (vp). Doses in Cohorts 2 and 3 (2 dose-up groups, each) ranged from 1.0 to 1.6 x 10(11) vp. Primary endpoints were immunogenicity (RSV preF protein antibody titers) for Cohort 1 and safety (solicited local and systemic adverse events [AEs] and unsolicited AEs) for Cohorts 2 and 3. Immunogenicity analyses (RSV preF protein antibody titers, RSV A2 neutralizing antibodies, and RSV-F-specific interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot) were performed on the day of vaccination and 14 days, 3 months, and 6 months postvaccination. Safety was monitored from vaccination until study end. Results: Overall, 454 participants were enrolled and received 1 dose of study vaccine or placebo (Cohort 1, n = 226; Cohort 2, n = 124; Cohort 3, n = 104). No substantial differences in measured immune responses were observed between lower or higher Ad26.RSV.preF doses compared with Ad26.RSV.preF 1.0 x 10(11) vp across all postvaccination time points. All Ad26.RSV.preF doses between 3.7 x 10(9) vp and 1.6 x 10(11) vp were well tolerated, with no safety issues identified. Conclusions: Results of this dose-ranging study may be used to inform the refinement of Ad26.RSV.preF drug product release and stability specifications. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04453202.

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.

Introduction: During the clinical development of a vaccine, study participants are monitored for the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) over a defined period post-vaccination to assess the safety of prophylactic vaccines. Among the safety data collected, a standard practice in prophylactic vaccine clinical trials involves collecting reactogenicity data through daily AE solicitation of pre-defined sets of symptoms (i.e. solicited AEs). Areas covered: This paper aims to propose recommendations to improve and harmonize the collection of active AE solicitation in prophylactic vaccine clinical trials. Expert opinion: We recommend using limited lists of solicited AEs adapted to the vaccine technology and target population. While the US Food and Drug Administration toxicity grading scale is commonly used in adolescents/adults, harmonizing grading criteria in infants/children would facilitate the comparison of vaccines' safety profiles. Solicited systemic AEs should not systematically be considered causally related to vaccination. Collection of solicited AEs should occur in cohorts of a maximum of 1,000 vaccinated participants, as larger cohort sizes do not improve substantially the precision of AE incidence. The incidence of daily solicited AEs should be compared with a control group for improved interpretations of their clinical relevance. These suggestions would improve the characterization of safety profiles of vaccines.

ABSTRACT An Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein combination vaccine demonstrated 80.0% vaccine efficacy for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-mediated lower respiratory tract disease in a phase 2b study. In addition to neutralizing antibodies, Fc-effector functions are associated with protective immunity against RSV. Here, vaccine-induced Fc-effector functions were evaluated for the Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine in a subset of participants enrolled in a phase 1/2a study. RSV preF-specific antibody subclasses, isotypes, Fcγ receptor binding, and Fc-effector functions were evaluated on days 1 (pre-vaccination), 15, 29, and 183. Compared with Ad26.RSV.preF or RSV preF protein alone, the combination vaccine induced greater Fc-effector functions, including antibody-dependent neutrophil phagocytosis and antibody-dependent natural killer cell activation. Despite RSV pre-exposure, antibody-dependent neutrophil phagocytosis and antibody-dependent natural killer cell activation were not observed at baseline but were induced de novo following vaccination. Compared with the individual vaccine components, the combination vaccine induced a more polyfunctional antibody response. IMPORTANCE Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause serious illness in older adults (i.e., those aged ≥60 years). Because options for RSV prophylaxis and treatment are limited, the prevention of RSV-mediated illness in older adults remains an important unmet medical need. Data from prior studies suggest that Fc-effector functions are important for protection against RSV infection. In this work, we show that the investigational Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine induced Fc-effector functional immune responses in adults aged ≥60 years who were enrolled in a phase 1/2a regimen selection study of Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein. These results demonstrate the breadth of the immune responses induced by the Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine.

Replication-incompetent adenoviral vectors have been under investigation as a platform to carry a variety of transgenes, and express them as a basis for vaccine development. A replication-incompetent adenoviral vector based on human adenovirus type 26 (Ad26) has been evaluated in several clinical trials. The Brighton Collaboration Viral Vector Vaccines Safety Working Group (V3SWG) was formed to evaluate the safety and features of recombinant viral vector vaccines. This paper reviews features of the Ad26 vectors, including tabulation of safety and risk assessment characteristics of Ad26-based vaccines. In the Ad26 vector, deletion of E1 gene rendering the vector replication incompetent is combined with additional genetic engineering for vaccine manufacturability and transgene expression optimization. These vaccines can be manufactured in mammalian cell lines at scale providing an effective, flexible system for high-yield manufacturing. Ad26 vector vaccines have favorable thermostability profiles, compatible with vaccine supply chains. Safety data are compiled in the Ad26 vaccine safety database version 4.0, with unblinded data from 23 ongoing and completed clinical studies for 3912 participants in five different Ad26-based vaccine programs. Overall, Ad26-based vaccines have been well tolerated, with no significant safety issues identified. Evaluation of Ad26-based vaccines is continuing, with >114,000 participants vaccinated as of 4th September 2020. Extensive evaluation of immunogenicity in humans shows strong, durable humoral and cellular immune responses. Clinical trials have not revealed impact of pre-existing immunity to Ad26 on vaccine immunogenicity, even in the presence of Ad26 neutralizing antibody titers or Ad26-targeting T cell responses at baseline. The first Ad26-based vaccine, against Ebola virus, received marketing authorization from EC on 1st July 2020, as part of the Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo vaccine regimen. New developments based on Ad26 vectors are underway, including a COVID-19 vaccine, which is currently in phase 3 of clinical evaluation. (c) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).