Emerging experience with meningococcal serogroup B protein vaccines

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The successful development of two broadly protective vaccines targeting Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB); 4CMenB and rLP2086, is the most significant recent advance in meningococcal disease prevention.

Areas covered: Here we review the principles underlying the development of each vaccine and the novel methods used to estimate vaccine coverage. We update clinical and post-licensure experience with 4CMenB and rLP2086.

Expert commentary: The immunogenicity and acceptable safety profile of 4CMenB and rLP2086 has been demonstrated in clinical trials. Continuing uncertainties exist around the appropriate age groups to be immunized, the degree and duration of efficacy, and the impact on nasopharyngeal carriage which has implications for strategies to interrupt transmission and maximize herd protection effects. Universal vaccination programs such as those undertaken in Quebec and the United Kingdom are providing important information on these issues. The potential for MenB vaccines to prevent infection by other serogroups appears promising, and the impact of MenB vaccines on other pathogenic neisserial species with similar surface proteins warrants further investigation.

KEYWORDS:

• 4CMenB
• carriage
• immunogenicity
• MATS
• MEASURE
• meningococcal serogroup B
• Neisseria meningitidis
• reverse vaccinology
• rLP2086
• strain coverage

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Phil Watson, Kumaran Vadivelu and Patricia Novy for their critical review of the paper.

Declaration of interest

All authors are employees of the GSK group of companies. D Toneatto, V Masignani, M Pizza and R Rappuoli hold shares in the GSK group of companies as part of his/her employee remuneration. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Writing assistance was provided by Joanne Wolter (Independent medical writer on behalf of GSK) and editorial and coordination assistance was provided by Maria Ana De la Grandiere (XPE Pharma & Science on behalf of GSK) and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA.

Trademarks

Bexsero is a trademark of the GSK group of companies. Trumenba is a trademark of Pfizer Inc.

Additional information

Funding

GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA funded all costs associated with the development and the publishing of the present manuscript.