Safety and Immunogenicity of Accelerated Heterologous Two-dose Ebola Vaccine Regimens in Adults With and Without HIV in Africa

Betty Mwesigwa, Fredrick Sawe, Janet Oyieko, Joel Mwakisisile, Edna Viegas, Gideon Akindiran Akintunde, Josphat Kosgei, Afoke Kokogho, Nyanda Ntinginya, Ilesh Jani, Georgi Shukarev, Jay W Hooper, Steven A Kwilas, Lucy A Ward, Janice Rusnak, Callie Bounds, Rachel Overman, Christopher S Badorrek, Leigh Anne Eller, Michael A EllerChristina S Polyak, Amber Moodley, Chi L Tran, Margaret C Costanzo, David J Leggat, Dominic Paquin-Proulx, Prossy Naluyima, Dickson Nkafu Anumendem, Auguste Gaddah, Kerstin Luhn, Jenny Hendriks, Chelsea McLean, Macaya Douoguih, Hannah Kibuuka, Merlin L Robb, Cynthia Robinson, Julie A Ake

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Shorter prophylactic vaccine schedules may offer more rapid protection against Ebola in resource-limited settings.

METHODS: This randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial conducted in five sub-Saharan African countries included people without HIV (PWOH, n = 249) and people living with HIV (PLWH, n = 250). Adult participants received one of two accelerated Ebola vaccine regimens (MVA-BN-Filo, Ad26.ZEBOV administered 14 days apart [n = 79] or Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo administered 28 days apart [n = 322]) or saline/placebo (n = 98). The primary endpoints were safety (adverse events [AEs]) and immunogenicity (Ebola virus [EBOV] glycoprotein-specific binding antibody responses). Binding antibody responders were defined as participants with a > 2.5-fold increase from baseline or the lower limit of quantification if negative at baseline.

RESULTS: The mean age was 33.4 years, 52% of participants were female, and among PLWH, the median (interquartile range) CD4+ cell count was 560.0 (418.0-752.0) cells/μL. AEs were generally mild/moderate with no vaccine-related serious AEs or remarkable safety profile differences by HIV status. At 21 days post-dose 2, EBOV glycoprotein-specific binding antibody response rates in vaccine recipients were 99% for the 14-day regimen (geometric mean concentrations [GMCs]: 5168 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units (EU)/mL in PWOH; 2509 EU/mL in PLWH), and 98% for the 28-day regimen (GMCs: 6037 EU/mL in PWOH; 2939 EU/mL in PLWH). At 12 months post-dose 2, GMCs in PWOH and PLWH were 635 and 514 EU/mL, respectively, for the 14-day regimen and 331 and 360 EU/mL, respectively, for the 28-day regimen.

CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated 14- and 28-day Ebola vaccine regimens were safe and immunogenic in PWOH and PLWH in Africa.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02598388.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical Infectious Diseases
DOIs
StateE-pub ahead of print - 24 Apr 2024

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