Haemophilus influenzae type b–Neisseria meningitidis serogroups C and Y tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine for infants and toddlers

Abstract

The highest rates of invasive meningococcal disease occur in children under 2 years of age, yet as of early 2011 no vaccine was licensed for the youngest infants. However, a novel vaccine consisting of capsular polysaccharides from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Neisseria meningitidis serogroups C and Y conjugated to tetanus toxoid (HibMenCY–TT; MenHibrix™, GlaxoSmithKline) is in the late stages of development. In clinical trials involving more than 7800 children, HibMenCY–TT was shown to be safe and immunogenic when administered at 2, 4, 6 and 12–15 months of age. Anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate antibody responses were noninferior to those elicited by licensed monovalent Hib vaccines, and most vaccinees developed bactericidal antibodies against N. meningitidis serogroups C and Y. The majority of subjects retained antibody responses as far as 3 years after vaccination. If licensed, HibMenCY–TT not only represents an incremental option for protection against invasive Hib, but also has the potential to prevent invasive meningococcal disease without increasing the number of injections.

Keywords::

• conjugate vaccine
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• infant immunization
• Neisseria meningitidis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Gary S Marshall has been an investigator on clinical trials funded by GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, and Sanofi Pasteur. He also has received honoraria from these companies for lectures and service on advisory boards. Kristina A Bryant has been an investigator on clinical trials funded by GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Novartis and MedImmune. She also has received honoraria from GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Pasteur for lectures and service on advisory boards. 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.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

DTaP: Diphtheria–tetanus–acellular pertussis; HepB: Hepatitis B; Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type B; IPV: Inactivated polio vaccine; OMP: Outer membrane protein; TT: Tetanus toxoid.