Immunogenicity of a new purified fusion protein vaccine to respiratory syncytial virus: a multi-center trial in children with cystic fibrosis

A third generation, purified fusion protein (PEP-3) vaccine was developed to prevent severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in high-risk groups. A phase II, multi-center, adjuvant-controlled trial was performed in RSV seropositive children with cystic fibrosis (CF); 151 received the adjuvant-control and 143 received the vaccine. Details of the vaccine-induced immune response are presented. At enrollment, RSV-specific, serum antibodies were comparable between both groups. A highly sensitive and specific serum antibody vaccine profile was established for the PFP-3 vaccine. At post-vaccination and end-of-study, RSV-specific, neutralizing antibody (Nt Ab) and binding antibody (Bd Ab) to the fusion (F) protein were significantly higher in PFP-3 vaccinees. After 28 days post-vaccination, Nt Ab and Bd Ab to F protein titers declined slowly at rates of 0.23 and 0.37 log 2 per month, respectively. The PFP-3 vaccine-induced a robust immune response that lasted throughout the RSV season. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.