Overview
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the immunogenicity of certain vaccines in protecting against meningitis B (MenB) in young adults who have previously received a different MenB vaccine.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- How many participants are protected against four key types of MenB bacteria before and after getting the new vaccine?
- How strong is the immune response after vaccination, and how many people show a noticeable boost in immune response?
Description
Neisseria meningitidis is a human-restricted pathogen that colonizes the nasopharynx and, in rare cases, invades the bloodstream or central nervous system, leading to invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). Clinical manifestations may include meningitis, septicemia, or both. Among the 12 known serogroups, five-A, B, C, W, and Y-account for the majority of global IMD cases. In the United States, serogroups B, C, W, and Y are responsible for approximately 78% of cases across all age groups, with serogroup B being the most prevalent in Europe.
IMD incidence is highest among infants and children under 5 years, adolescents and young adults (particularly ages 16-21), and older adults aged 65 and above.
Vaccination Landscape:
Two monovalent MenB vaccines are currently licensed in the U.S.:
- MenB-4C (Bexsero, GSK)
- MenB-FHbp (Trumenba, Pfizer)
In October 2023, the FDA approved MenACWY-TT/MenB-FHbp (Penbraya, Pfizer), a pentavalent vaccine targeting serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y for individuals aged 10-25 years. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends Penbraya for:
- Healthy individuals aged 16-23 years when shared clinical decision-making supports MenB vaccination
- Individuals aged ≥10 years are at increased risk for IMD Due to antigenic differences between MenB-4C and MenB-FHbp (with only one shared antigen), these vaccines are not interchangeable. Continuity with the same manufacturer is required for subsequent doses to ensure immunogenic consistency.
Study Purpose:
This clinical trial aims to characterize the immunogenicity of a single dose of MenB-FHbp (Trumenba) or MenACWY-TT/MenB-FHbp (Penbraya) in young adults previously primed with a two-dose series of the heterologous MenB-4C (Bexsero) vaccine.
The study will evaluate:
Primary Objective: The proportion of participants achieving seroprotection (defined as hSBA titers ≥ lower limit of quantification \[LLOQ\]) against four MenB indicator strains at baseline and 28 days post-vaccination
Secondary Objectives:
- Geometric mean titers (GMTs) of hSBA responses to the four MenB strains
- Proportion of participants with composite seroprotection (hSBA ≥LLOQ for all four strains)
- Proportion achieving seroresponse (≥4-fold rise in hSBA titers from baseline)
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Provides written informed consent before any study procedures are performed.
- Be able to understand and agree to comply with planned study procedures and be available for all study visits.
- Subject is in good health as determined by vital signs, medical history, targeted physical examination (if indicated), and the judgment of the investigator.
- Vaccinated with 2-dose Bexsero primary series at least 2.5 years before vaccination. Must confirm vaccination status and dates of administration through GRITS, healthcare provider, or other official documentation
- Women of childbearing potential must agree to use or have practiced true abstinence2 or use at least one acceptable primary form of contraception from 28 days prior through 28 days after vaccination.
- Women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 24 hours before vaccination
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subject has an acute illness with fever (temperature ≥100.4 °F) within 72 hours before vaccine administration.
- Subject is currently pregnant or breastfeeding an infant/child.
- Has any medical disease or condition that, in the opinion of the site PI or appropriate sub-investigator, precludes study participation. (Including acute, subacute, intermittent,t or chronic medical disease or condition that would place the subject at an unacceptable risk of injury, render the subject unable to meet the requirements of the protocol, or may interfere with the evaluation of responses or the subject's successful completion of this trial. Chronic medical conditions that are stable, with no escalation in medication doses or new medications administered in the preceding 3 months, will not be considered exclusionary.)
- Presence of self-reported or medically documented significant medical or psychiatric condition(s) as determined by the investigator.
- Received or plans to receive a licensed, live vaccine within 4 weeks before or after the study vaccination.
- Received or plans to receive a licensed, inactivated vaccine within 2 weeks before through 4 weeks after the study vaccination.
- Any previous severe hypersensitivity or anaphylactic reaction to any vaccine or vaccine-related component
- Bleeding diathesis or condition associated with prolonged bleeding time that would contraindicate intramuscular injection.
- Received any MenB vaccine within the last 2.5 years before vaccination.
- Received more than 2 doses of Bexsero or any other MenB vaccine(s) (e.g. Trumenba or Penbraya)
- Any known or suspected defect of the immune system that would prevent an immune response to the vaccine, such as participants with congenital or acquired defects in B-cell function, those receiving chronic systemic (oral, intravenous, or intramuscular) corticosteroid therapy \>20 mg per day for ≥14 days, or those receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Participants with terminal complement deficiency are excluded from participation in this study.
- Significant neurological disorder or history of seizure (excluding simple febrile seizure).
- Any neuroinflammatory condition or autoimmune condition requiring immunomodulatory treatment, including, but not limited to, Guillain-Barré syndrome, transverse myelitis, uveitis, optic neuritis, and multiple sclerosis.