Overview
This open label randomized study will be conducted to evaluate and/or describe the immunogenicity and describe the safety of MenACYW conjugate vaccine when administered in infants and toddlers.
It will be conducted in India and the RSA in 2 cohorts:
- Cohort I: Infants and toddlers 6 months to 16 months of age
- Cohort II: Infants and toddlers 6 weeks to 15 months of age
In Cohort I, eligible participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive 2 intramuscular (IM) injections (1+1 vaccination schedule) of either MenACYW conjugate vaccine (Groups 1 and 3) or Menactra vaccine (Groups 2 and 4), co-administered with routine pediatric vaccines.
In Cohort II, eligible participants will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either 3 IM injections (2+1 vaccination schedule) of MenACYW conjugate vaccine co-administered with routine pediatric vaccines (Groups 5 and 7) or routine pediatric vaccines only (Groups 6 and 8).
The primary objectives of this study are:
- To demonstrate the non-inferiority of immunogenicity of 2 doses of MenACYW conjugate vaccine compared to 2 doses of Menactra® vaccine in infants and toddlers 6 months to 16 months of age in terms of serum bactericidal assay using human complement (hSBA) seroprotection (titers ≥ 1:8) in India and the Republic of South Africa (RSA)
- To demonstrate the vaccine immune sufficiency of 3 doses of MenACYW conjugate vaccine in infants and toddlers 6 weeks to 15 months of age in terms of hSBA seroprotection (titers ≥ 1:8) in India and the RSA
The secondary objectives of this study are:
- To describe the antibody titers to the meningococcal serogroups A, C, Y, and W:
- before and 30 days post primary series of MenACYW conjugate vaccine and before and 30 days post booster dose of MenACYW conjugate vaccine in infants and toddlers 6 weeks to 15 months of age in India and the RSA when administered concomitantly with other age-recommended vaccines.
- before and after 30 days post each dose of MenACYW conjugate vaccine or Menactra vaccine in infants and toddlers 6 months to 16 months of age in India and the RSA when administered concomitantly with other age-recommended vaccines.
- To describe the antibody responses against the antigens of the other age-recommended vaccines when administered concomitantly with MenACYW conjugate vaccine:
- in infants and toddlers 6 weeks to 15 months of age in India and the RSA.
- in infants and toddlers 6 months to 16 months of age in India and the RSA. The duration of each participant's active participation in the study will be approximately 10 to 11 months for Cohort I and 13,5 to 14,5 months for Cohort II.
Description
The duration of each participant's active participation in the study will be approximately 10 to 11 months for Cohort I and 13,5 to 14,5 months for Cohort II.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Cohort I: 6 months of age (180 to 209 days of age) on the day of the first study visit
- Cohort II: 6-8 weeks of age (42 to 62 days of age) on the day of the first study visit
- Healthy infants as determined by medical history, physical examination, and judgment of the Investigator
- Cohort I: Z-score ≥ 2 SD on the Weight-for-age table of the WHO Child Growth Standards.
- Cohort II: Born at full term of pregnancy (≥ 37 weeks) and with a birth weight ≥ 2.5 kg.
- Participant and parent/ legally acceptable representative (LAR) are able to attend all scheduled visits and to comply with all study procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participation at the time of study enrollment (or in the 4 weeks preceding the first study vaccination) or planned participation during the present study period in another clinical study investigating a vaccine, drug, medical device, or medical procedure.
- Receipt of any vaccine in the 4 weeks preceding the first study vaccination (except for Bacille Calmette-Guérin [BCG], birth dose OPV and birth dose of HepB vaccine) or planned receipt of any vaccine in the 4 weeks following each study vaccination except for the following vaccinations, which may be received at least 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after any study vaccination. This exception includes monovalent pandemic influenza vaccines, multivalent influenza vaccines, any COVID-19 vaccines, and administration of OPV on National Immunization Day in India.
- Previous vaccination against meningococcal disease with either the study vaccine or another vaccine (ie, mono- or polyvalent, polysaccharide, or conjugate meningococcal vaccine containing serogroups A, C, Y, or W; or meningococcal B serogroup-containing vaccine).
- For Cohort II - Previous vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis (other than birth dose of OPV), Hepatitis A, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella; and of Hib, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and/or RV infection or disease.
- For Cohort II - Previous vaccination with more than 1 dose of HepB vaccine.
- Receipt of immune globulins, blood, or blood-derived products in the past 3 months.
- Known or suspected congenital or acquired immunodeficiency*; or receipt of
immunosuppressive therapy, such as anti-cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy,
within the preceding 6 months; or long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy
(prednisone or equivalent for more than 2 consecutive weeks within the past 3 months).
*Note: Participants with a history of HIV but without evident severe immunosuppression can be included.
- Family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency, until the immune competence of the potential vaccine recipient is demonstrated.
- Individuals with active tuberculosis.
- History of meningococcal infection, confirmed either clinically, serologically, or microbiologically.
- At high risk for meningococcal infection during the study (specifically, but not limited to, participants with persistent complement deficiency, with anatomic or functional asplenia, or participants travelling to countries with high endemic or epidemic disease).
- History of intussusception.
- History of any neurologic disorders, including any seizures and progressive neurologic disorders.
- History of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
- Known systemic hypersensitivity to any of the vaccine components, or history of a life-threatening reaction to the vaccine(s) used in the study or to a vaccine containing any of the same substances, including neomycin, gelatin, and yeast.
- Verbal report of thrombocytopenia, as reported by the parent/LAR, contraindicating IM vaccination in the Investigator's opinion.
- Bleeding disorder, or receipt of anticoagulants in the 3 weeks preceding inclusion, contraindicating IM vaccination in the Investigator's opinion.
- Chronic illness (including, but not limited to, cardiac disorders, congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, renal disorders, auto-immune disorders, diabetes, psychomotor diseases, and known congenital or genetic diseases) that, in the opinion of the Investigator, is at a stage where it might interfere with study conduct or completion.
- Moderate or severe acute illness/infection (according to Investigator judgment) on the day of vaccination or febrile illness (temperature ≥ 38.0 C). A prospective participant should not be included in the study until the condition has resolved or the febrile event has subsided.
- Receipt of oral or injectable antibiotic therapy within 72 hours prior to the first blood draw.
- Identified as a natural or adopted child of the Investigator or employee with direct involvement in the proposed study.