Recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix^®): a new option for the prevention of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia

Abstract

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a challenging condition for pain management specialists. The prevention of herpes zoster (HZ) and subsequent PHN in individuals aged 50 years and older, via the development of new vaccines, is an ongoing research project. The live zoster vaccine (LZV, Zostavax^®) was the first proof of concept that vaccination could prevent HZ, but LZV cannot be used in various immune-compromised patients. This led to the development of a new non-live recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix^®). This RZV has shown promising results in many clinical trials, with high reactogenicity and similar systemic adverse effects compared to those of LZV. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has recommended LZV as a standard vaccine for HZ prevention in adults ≥ 50 years of age, but no studies directly comparing the safety and efficacy of RZV and LZV vaccines have been conducted. This article reviews the brief history, efficacy, and safety of the two vaccines and discusses the advantage of RZV over LZV based on the available literature.

INTRODUCTION

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a serious complication after varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, is a challenging neuropathic pain for pain management specialists [1,2]. This peripheral neuropathy can present as any one of three subtypes: continuous burning pain; paroxysmal shooting or electric shock-like pain; or evoked sensations such as mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, or an exaggerated response to light touch [3]. The burden of this illness increases with advancing patient age as a result of declining cell-mediated immunity [4]. This crippling condition can have an enormous negative impact on patient quality of life and their capacity to perform day to day activities. Severe symptoms of PHN cause sleep disturbance, fatigue, and depression, diminish personal satisfaction, and carry a general weight to family and society [3]; therefore, various modalities are used to relieve these symptoms [5]. In the United States (US), 10%-18% of herpes zoster (HZ) patients develop PHN and 68% of HZ and 85% of PHN patients are over 50 years of age and unable to endure the pain of PHN or associated symptoms [6]. The risk of HZ is 8-10 times greater after 50 years of age compared to that of younger ages [2]. A higher occurrence of HZ has been observed in patients with diabetes mellitus [7] and compromised immunity, particularly those with diseases affecting the immune system or those taking medications that affect the immune system [8].

Data analysis by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of South Korea [9] showed that the incidence of HZ is 0.25% per year, with a lifetime risk of 23%-30%. More than 50% of HZ patients were older than 60 years, and peak PHN incidence (1.05% per yr) was observed in patients aged 70-79 years. In 2013, the total number of patients with PHN increased by 58% and medical costs increased by 40% compared to 2009. An aging population with an increased prevalence of chronic diseases and immune-compromised states may further add to the burden imposed by HZ and PHN.

Numerous researchers have attempted to lower the risk of HZ and subsequent PHN; of these efforts, the development of an adult vaccine for HZ became the most critical turning point. A live zoster vaccine (LZV, Zostavax^®; Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ) was the first proof of concept that vaccination could prevent HZ. Many people have benefitted from the use of LZV in reducing the risk of HZ [10]. However, LZV could not be used in certain immune-compromised patients, prompting the advancement for a new recombinant adjuvant subunit vaccine. Recently, a non-live recombinant adjuvant subunit zoster vaccine (RZV) was cultured to overcome the shortcomings of LZV and is commercially available in some countries (i.e., US, Canada, Germany, and Australia). RZV results have been promising in many clinical trials, showing high reactogenicity and similar systemic adverse effects compared to the previous vaccine [11].

In this paper, we review the market-available vaccines for HZ and PHN prevention and compare the efficacy, safety, and advantages of the RZV and LZV vaccines. This review will help pain management specialists better understand the vaccine against HZ and PHN.

MAIN BODY

1. HZ vaccine history

Since 1958, when Weller et al. [12] reported that HZ and childhood chicken pox were caused by the same virus (VZV) [12], significant effort has been made to reduce the risk of this virus. The first live-attenuated vaccine, known as vOka, was manufactured, tested, and successfully used in Japan in 1974 to prevent deadly cases of varicella among immune-compromised children [13]. Since then, varicella vaccines containing the Oka strain have been produced by multiple pharmaceutical companies (i.e., Oka/Merck strain as Varivax^® by Merck & Co., Inc. and Oka strain as Varilrix^® by GlaxoSmithKline [Brentford, UK]) [14]. In 2006, Merck & Co., Inc. developed a new live attenuated vaccine (Zostavax^®) with the Oka/Merck strain to prevent HZ in adults ≥ 60 years of age [15]. Owing to several limitations of Zostavax^® in immune-compromised adults, and its waning efficacy over 5-6 years, a new non-live RZV, Shingrix^®, was developed and launched by GlaxoSmithKline in 2017 for use in adults ≥ 60 years of age [16]. Several studies have shown the benefit of Shingrix^® in immune-compromised adults [16,17] and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends the use of RZV on a case by case basis in immune-compromised adults [18].

Currently, a new inactivated vaccine made from Zostavax^® by gamma irradiation was introduced and has been tested. Phase II/III trials have shown that this new inactivated version of LZV is well tolerated, has favorable effects in patients with malignancies, and does not possess significant safety issues [19-21]. In contrast to the single-dose injection required for LZV, this gamma-irradiated vaccine utilizes a four-dose regimen [21]. However, although the new vaccine is not efficacious in patients with hematological malignancies, it is effective for the prevention of HZ in chemotherapy patients with solid tumor malignancies [19]. Thus, though not currently available, this new vaccine is expected to be used in immune-compromised adults and post-transplant recipients.

2. HZ vaccines available on the market

Two types of HZ vaccines are currently in use: the live attenuated vaccine (Zostavax^®) and the recombinant adjuvant subunit vaccine (Shingrix^®) (Table 1). In some articles, the recombinant adjuvant vaccine has been used synonymously with ‘inactivated vaccine’ [22]. The concept here is that the term ‘inactivated vaccine’ indicates the vaccine does not contain the active (living) component of the virus and has lost its ability to replicate in the body of the host. As such, the recombinant adjuvant subunit and heat-killed vaccine are considered inactivated vaccines.

Table 1.

Comparison of the Two Types of Zoster Vaccines

Brand name	Zostavax®	Shingrix®
Company	Merck & Co., Inc.	GlaxoSmithKline
Type of vaccine	Live attenuated vaccine	Recombinant adjuvant subunit vaccine
Dosing	Single shot	Two shots (The second dose is given 2-6 mo after the first dose)
Route of administration	Subcutaneous injection	Intramuscular injection
Length of immunity	About 5 yr [27]	About 9 yr [36]

1) LZV, Zostavax^®

Zostavax^® was the first proof of concept vaccine to show that vaccination can prevent HZ. It is a live attenuated vaccine that contains a much higher virus titer than the vaccine for chickenpox; Zostavax^® holds at least 19,400 plaque forming units (pfu) per dose of the Oka virus strain compared to 1,350 pfu per dose in the chickenpox vaccine [23]. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in adults ≥ 50 years for a one time subcutaneous injection [24]. The FDA recommendation was based on the Zoster Vaccine Efficacy and Safety Trial (ZEST), which showed a 69.8% risk reduction for HZ in patients between 50 and 59 years over 1.3 years of follow-up (Table 2) [25]. In another trial conducted by the Shingles Prevention Study (SPS) group, LZV efficacy with respect to the incidence of HZ was lower in subjects ≥ 70 years than in younger subjects (37.6% vs. 63.9%). HZ and PHN occurrences were reduced by 51.3% and 66.5%, respectively. Immunization decreased the burden of illness from HZ by 61.1% (Table 2) [26].

Table 2.

Comparison of the ZEST and SPS

Characteristic	ZEST	SPS
Study population	50-59 yr with VZV infection	≥ 60 yr with VZV infection
	n = 22,439	n = 38,546
Median follow-up	1.3 yr (up to 2 yr)	3.12 yr
HZ risk reduction	Overall: 69.8%	Overall: 51.3%
		60-69 yr: 63.9%
		≥ 70 yr: 37.6%
PHN risk reduction	NA	66.5%
Vaccine-related serious adverse events	n = 1 (vs. n = 0 in placebo)	n = 2 (vs. n = 3 in placebo)

ZEST: Zoster Vaccine Efficacy and Safety Trial, SPS: Shingles Prevention Study, HZ: herpes zoster, PHN: postherpetic neuralgia, VZV: varicella zoster virus, NA: not assessed.

The short-term persistence sub-study (STPS) was conducted approximately 15 months after the SPS, and followed up for 3.3-7.8 years after vaccination. It was conducted at 12 sites with a study population of 14,270, who were also involved in the SPS group. This study showed that the effect of Zostavax^® decreased throughout the 3.3-7.8 years following vaccination. Vaccine efficacy for PHN decreased from 66.5% to 60.1%, and vaccine efficacy for HZ incidence reduction decreased from 51.3% to 39.6% during the same time interval. Therefore, the STPS study concluded that there was a reduced benefit from Zostavax^® after 5 years post-vaccination [27].

The long-term persistence sub-study (LTPS) [28] obtained vaccine efficacy information up to 11 years after vaccination. This study enrolled 6,867 vaccinated adults without a placebo group from the SPS study; vaccine efficacy for HZ burden of illness declined and the incidence of HZ and PHN declined from years 7 to 11 after Zostavax^® vaccination.

Another study conducted in Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) followed 704,312 adults (176,078 vaccinated vs. 528,234 unvaccinated individuals) aged ≥ 60 years over 8 years and found that vaccine efficacy decreased from 68.7% to 4.2% during this period [29]. Both the SPS study and KPSC study suggested the necessity of a second dose of zoster vaccine [26,29]. Overall vaccine efficacy in the first year post-vaccination was 67.5% but efficacy decreased to 47.2% in the second year and continued to gradually decrease to 30% by year 8. Out of 392,677 total vaccine recipients, 21,665 (5.5%) were immune-compromised. Vaccine efficacy was the same among the immune-competent and immune-compromised recipients [30].

2) RZV, Shingrix^®

Despite the promising HZ prevention results of the LZV vaccine in immune-competent adults, there are certain limitations to its use. It cannot be used in pregnant women, patients with active tuberculosis, or those allergic to any of the vaccine components [31]. The uncertain vaccine efficacy after five years post-vaccination, and the unclear recommendation of its use in immune-compromised adults, required the launch of a more efficient vaccine for HZ and PHN protection [26,27], resulting in the introduction of a new, non-live vaccine in 2017.

(1) Shingrix^® vaccine efficacy

Shingrix^® is a non-live, adjuvant RZV. It contains VZV glycoprotein E (gE) antigen (50 µg) and a liposomal based adjuvant system, ASO1_B (50 µg). ASO1_B is a liposome-based vaccine adjuvant framework that contains two immune-stimulants: 3-O-desacyl-4’-monophosphoryl lipid A and saponin QS-21 [23]. The monophosphoryl lipid activates innate patient immunity and results in cytokine production; QS-21 stimulates CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and the antigen-specific antibody response leads to a strong cellular and humoral response [32]. Glycoprotein E is the primary target of T cell response because it is the most abundant VZV envelope protein, which assumes a significant role in viral replication and cell to cell virus transfer [33]. Glycoprotein E shows a higher immune response compared to other glycoproteins, is involved in the pathogenesis of skin lesions, and is present in infected cells as HZ is reactivated [23,34]. This vaccine is administered intramuscularly in the deltoid, unlike the subcutaneous administration of Zostavax^®. The vaccine does not contain preservatives; therefore, it must be used within 6 hours of reconstitution. It is given in a series of two doses. The second dose is given 2-6 months after the first dose. The efficacy and safety of Shingrix^® were studied by two large phase III placebo-controlled randomized studies in 18 countries. The ZOE-50 study was conducted in immune-competent participants or those on low dose steroids aged 50 years or older [35]. The ZOE-70 study was a separate study conducted at the same time in individuals 70 years or older to establish the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in that specific age group (Table 3) [11]. A total of 16,160 adults in 18 countries were involved in the ZOE-50 study. A total of 14,759 adults were given two doses of vaccine or placebo, out of which 216 adults (6 cases in the immunization group and 210 cases in the placebo group) were diagnosed with confirmed cases of HZ. Overall vaccine efficacy was 97.2% against HZ [35]. The randomization method, inclusion and exclusion criteria, dosage, and administration of the vaccine in the ZOE-70 study were the same as those in the ZOE-50 study. During the subsequent 3.7 years, 23 cases of HZ occurred in the immunization group and 223 in the placebo group. The overall vaccine efficacy was 89.8%.

Table 3.

The Efficacy of Recombinant Adjuvant Subunit Vaccine (Shingrix^®) in Adults Grouped by Age

Characteristic	ZOE-50	ZOE-70
Study population	n = 14,411 Age: ≥ 50 yr	n = 13,900 Age: ≥ 70 yr
Median follow-up	3.2 yr	3.7 yr
HZ risk reduction (%)	Overall: 97.2	Overall: 89.8
	50-59 yr: 96.6
	60-69 yr: 97.4
	≥ 70 yr: 97.9
PHN risk reduction (%)	≥ 50 yr: 91.2	≥ 70 yr: 88
Vaccine-related SAE	n = 1 (vs. n = 3 in placebo)	n = 12 (vs. n = 8 in placebo)

ZOE: study done on the efficacy and safety of the herpes zoster recombinant subunit vaccine, HZ: herpes zoster, PHN: postherpetic neuralgia, SAE: systemic adverse effects.

In the pooled analysis of data from the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 studies, the overall efficacy of Shingrix^® in decreasing HZ risk was 91.3%. Vaccine efficacy was 97.6% in the first year, 92% in the second year, 84.7% in the third year, and 87.9% in the fourth year. PHN did not develop in individuals below 70 years of age. Vaccine efficacy against PHN was 88.8% in adults ≥ 70 years old [11].

Persistent immunity against HZ after Shingrix^® vaccination was shown in a study by Schwarz et al. [36]. Irrespective of age, both the cellular and humoral resistance stayed above the pre-vaccination level up to 9-years post-vaccination. Immune response was anticipated to stay over the benchmark up to 15 years post-initial vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

LZV and RZV vaccines for HZ and PHN prevention are readily available on the market. Although the efficacy and safety of LZV has been proven in many studies, major drawbacks to its use include limited use in immune-compromised adults, waning cell-mediated immunity, and lower efficacy compared to RZV in reducing HZ and PHN incidence. RZV (Shingrix^®), a non-live vaccine containing recombinant glycoprotein E with a new adjuvant (ASO1_B), is preferable to LZV and has been increasingly used since its launch in 2017, mainly because of its higher efficacy. The new RZV vaccine showed favorable outcomes in various population subgroups, including different races, adults with a history of HZ, individuals previously vaccinated with Zostavax^®, and even immune-compromised individuals and transplant recipients. This new vaccine will protect many people from the risk of HZ and subsequent PHN.