Safety Profile of the Adjuvanted Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Immunocompromised Populations: An Overview of Six Trials

Abstract

Introduction

The adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) has demonstrated high efficacy against herpes zoster in older adults and immunocompromised populations. We present comprehensive safety data from six clinical trials in immunocompromised populations (autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant and renal transplant recipients, patients with hematologic malignancies, patients with solid tumors, and human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults) who are at an increased risk of herpes zoster.

Methods

In all trials, immunocompromised adults ≥ 18 years of age were administered RZV or placebo. Safety was evaluated in the total vaccinated cohort. Solicited adverse events (AEs) were collected for 7 days and unsolicited AEs for 30 days after each dose. Serious AEs, fatal serious AEs, and potential immune-mediated diseases were collected from dose 1 until 12 months post-last dose or study end. Data were pooled for solicited AEs; unsolicited AEs, (fatal) serious AEs, and potential immune-mediated diseases were analyzed for each individual trial. All AEs were analyzed for sub-strata of adults 18–49 years of age and ≥ 50 years of age.

Results

In total, 1587 (RZV) and 1529 (placebo) adults were included in the pooled total vaccinated cohort. Solicited AEs were more common after RZV than placebo, were generally more common in the younger age stratum, and were mostly mild to moderate and resolved within 3 days (median duration). Unsolicited AEs and serious AEs were in line with underlying diseases and therapies. Across studies, the percentage of adults reporting one or more unsolicited AE was comparable between RZV and placebo, irrespective of age stratum. The percentage of adults reporting one or more serious AE, fatal serious AE, or potential immune-mediated diseases was generally similar for RZV and placebo, irrespective of age stratum. Overall, no safety concerns were identified.

Conclusions

Recombinant zoster vaccine has a clinically acceptable safety profile. With the previously published vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity results, these data support a favorable benefit-risk profile of RZV vaccination in immunocompromised populations who are at an increased risk of herpes zoster.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40264-021-01076-w.

Plain Language Summary

Varicella zoster virus leads to chickenpox after primary infection and herpes zoster upon reactivation of the latent virus. Older adults and immunocompromised people, whose immune system is impaired because of the age-related decline in immunity and their underlying disease and/or treatment, respectively, are at an increased risk of herpes zoster and its complications. Recombinant zoster vaccine has been approved to prevent herpes zoster and its complications in adults aged ≥ 50 years in over 30 countries. In Europe, the vaccine has recently received approval to expand its use in adults aged 18 years or older who are at an increased risk of herpes zoster. We present an overview of the safety data from six clinical trials in immunocompromised patients vaccinated with recombinant zoster vaccine. We found that solicited adverse events were more common after the vaccine than placebo but that these were mild to moderate in intensity. Furthermore, the frequency of unsolicited adverse events was similar between the vaccine and placebo, and most of the reported adverse events and severe adverse events (e.g., infections or tumors) could be attributed to the pre-existent diseases and/or therapies. As such, no safety concern was identified following the review of the available clinical data. This overview, together with the published efficacy data in the prevention of herpes zoster and the vaccine immunogenicity, provides useful medical information and supports the use of the recombinant zoster vaccine in an immunocompromised population at an increased risk of herpes zoster.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40264-021-01076-w.

Key Points

Safety of the recombinant zoster vaccine was evaluated in six clinical trials in immunocompromised adults ≥ 18 years of age

Adverse event profiles were generally balanced between the recombinant zoster vaccine and placebo and were generally consistent with the underlying diseases and/or therapies

Recombinant zoster vaccine has a favorable benefit-risk profile in adults ≥ 18 years of age with diverse immunocompromising conditions

Introduction

Herpes zoster (HZ) results from the symptomatic reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus in the dorsal root or cranial nerve ganglia and usually presents as a vesicular rash with a dermatomal unilateral distribution [1]. In generally healthy adults, the incidence of HZ increases from under five cases per 1000 person-years in people under 50 years of age (YOA) to over ten cases per 1000 person-years in people over 70 YOA [2, 3].

A decline in varicella-zoster virus-specific cell-mediated immunity increases the risk of HZ [4, 5]. In older adults, this decline occurs as a consequence of the age-related decline in immunity [6], but cell-mediated immunity impairments may also result from disease or immunosuppressive treatment [7–9]. As a result, immunocompromised (IC) populations are at an increased risk of HZ [10, 11]. The risk of HZ is, for instance, substantially elevated after kidney [12, 13] and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) [14–17], in patients with hematologic malignancies (HM) or solid malignancies [18–20], and in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive populations, even after the introduction of antiretroviral therapy [21–24]. Moreover, the severity and duration of HZ tend to be greater in IC populations, and IC patients are at a greater risk for HZ-associated complications [25, 26], disease dissemination [27], and recurrent HZ episodes [19, 28].

Antiviral therapy, if started within 72 h after onset of the zoster rash, can reduce the duration of the HZ rash and the formation of new lesions, but has limited impact on reducing the incidence or duration of post-herpetic neuralgia [29, 30]. Antiviral prophylaxis is commonly administered to HSCT recipients to prevent HZ, but efficacy depends on adherence to treatment [31–33]. Moreover, the duration of prophylaxis is not standardized, and the risk of HZ is high once prophylaxis has stopped [31, 32].

Vaccination may provide an effective prophylactic measure to reduce the disease burden due to HZ. The live zoster vaccine (Zostavax; Merck and Co., Inc., New Jersey, United States) is a one-dose vaccine licensed for use in older adults, but live vaccines are generally contraindicated in IC populations because of their potential virulence [34, 35]. A four-dose heat-inactivated varicella-zoster vaccine (V212; Merck and Co., Inc., New Jersey, United States) has been evaluated in IC adults [36–38], but it is not currently licensed for use. The two-dose adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV; Shingrix; GSK, Brentford, United Kingdom) is licensed for use in adults ≥ 50 YOA in many countries worldwide, and in Europe also for use in adults ≥ 18 YOA who are at an increased risk of HZ [39]. Recombinant zoster vaccine demonstrated > 90% efficacy against HZ in adults ≥ 50 YOA [40, 41] and > 68% efficacy in auto-HSCT recipients ≥ 18 YOA [42]. Post hoc analyses suggested a vaccine efficacy of 87% in adults with HM [43].

We previously published a comprehensive overview showing that RZV has an acceptable clinical safety profile when administered to adults ≥ 50 YOA [44]. Data from clinical trials in IC populations have previously been published [42, 43, 45–48], but safety results from these trials have not been presented with the same level of detail as in the general older adult population.

In this article, we therefore present an extensive review of safety data across the six studies that have been completed to date (three phase III studies, one phase II/III study, and two supportive phase I/II clinical trials) in patients with IC conditions, including auto-HSCT and renal transplant (RT) recipients, patients with HM, patients with solid tumors (ST), and HIV-infected adults. Owing mainly to the heterogeneity of the underlying diseases and therapies of the IC study populations in the development program, data are pooled for all studies only for solicited adverse events (AEs) and presented per individual study for unsolicited AEs and other safety data. The method of collection of solicited AEs was similar across the six IC studies, hence it was considered appropriate to conduct a post hoc pooling of the data from all the studies. For unsolicited AEs and other safety data, the differences between study populations are anticipated to affect the ability to interpret pooled analyses; therefore, none of the studies had pre-specified plans for data pooling. We expect these data will inform policy decisions, recommendations, guidelines, and clinical practice protocols regarding the use of RZV in IC patients, who are at an increased risk of HZ.

Methods

Study Design and Participants

All six trials were randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded clinical trials conducted in parallel groups of IC participants. Methodologic details regarding the study design and objectives are presented in the primary publications, but a summary of the information relevant for this article is presented in Table 1. Anonymized individual participant data and study documents can be requested for further research from www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com.

Table 1.

Study overview

Populations (study abbreviation)	NCT number	Phase	First dose	No. of doses (months)a	Placebo	TVCb				References
						RZV		Placebo
						18–49	≥ 50	18–49	≥ 50
Autologous hematopoietic cell transplant recipients (auto-HSCT[III])	NCT01610414	III	After transplantation	2 (month 0, 2)	Sucrose reconstituted with saline	230	692	229	695	[42]
Hematologic malignancies (HM)	NCT01767467	III	During or after therapy	2 (month 0, 2)	Sucrose reconstituted with saline	74	209	73	206	[43]
Renal transplant recipients (RT)	NCT02058589	III	After therapy	2 (month 0, 2)	Sucrose reconstituted with saline	48	84	49	83	[45]
Patients with solid tumors (ST)	NCT01798056	II/III	During or after therapy	2 (month 0, 2)	Sucrose reconstituted with saline	31	86	30	85	[46]
Autologous hematopoietic cell transplant recipients (auto-HSCT[I/II])	NCT00920218	I/II	After transplantation	2a (month 1, 3)	Saline	4	25	–	–	[47]
				3a (month 0, 1, 3)		10	20	4	26
HIV-infected participants (HIV)	NCT01165203	I/II	At study initiation	3 (month 0, 2, 6)	Saline	46	28	34	15	[48]

HIV human immunodeficiency virus, RZV adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine, TVC total vaccinated cohort

^aStudy participants in the auto-HSCT(III), RT, HM, and ST studies received two intramuscular doses of either RZV or saline placebo, with the second dose administered 1–2 months after the first vaccination. Participants in the auto-HSCT(I/II) study were stratified into four groups. One group received three doses of glycoprotein E/AS01_E, and was not included in the analyses presented in this manuscript. The subgroups included in this manuscript received two doses of RZV (at months 1 and 3), three doses of RZV (at months 0, 1, and 3), or three doses of placebo (at months 0, 1, and 3). Participants in the HIV study received three doses of RZV or placebo at months 0, 2, and 6

^bAll data are reported for the total vaccinated cohort consisting of all participants who received at least one dose of RZV or placebo

Study Vaccines

Recombinant zoster vaccine contains 50 μg of lyophilized recombinant glycoprotein E antigen and is reconstituted in the GSK proprietary AS01_B Adjuvant System (containing 50 μg of 3-O-desacyl-4′-monophosphoryl lipid, 50 μg of Quillaja saponaria Molina, fraction 21 [QS21, licensed by GSK from Antigenics LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Agenus Inc., a Delaware, USA corporation] and liposome).

Vaccinations were administered by qualified study personnel not involved in further data collection. Investigators collecting study data were unaware of whether participants were assigned to receive RZV or placebo.

Collection of Safety Data

Methods for the collection of safety data were presented in the primary publications and are detailed here in the Electronic Supplementary Material (ESM). Figure S1 in the ESM presents the general characteristics for all safety data presented in this article.

The exact duration of safety follow-up times differed between studies. Safety follow-up started after administration of the first dose. In participants in the RT, HM, ST, phase I/II auto-HSCT (auto-HSCT[I/II]), and HIV studies, safety follow-up was approximately 12 months after the last vaccination. In the phase III auto-HSCT (auto-HSCT[III]) study, follow-up was driven by HZ case accrual and ranged from 12 months to 4 years after the last vaccine dose, with a median of 29 months.

Solicited AEs were collected via diary cards for 7 days after each vaccination. Unsolicited AEs were collected for 30 days after each vaccination. Serious AEs (SAEs) and potential immune-mediated diseases (pIMDs) were collected from the first vaccination dose until 12 months after the last vaccination. Fatal SAEs were collected from the first vaccination until study end.

Statistical Analysis

Safety analyses of unsolicited AEs, SAEs, fatal SAEs, and pIMDs were conducted on the total vaccinated cohorts of each trial, consisting of all study participants receiving at least one dose of RZV or placebo. Analysis of solicited AEs was performed on the pooled data set consisting of all six clinical trials (Fig. S1 in the ESM). The results for the analysis of solicited AEs overall per subject are presented in this article. Analyses were descriptive and were calculated as percentages with exact 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using both Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA^®) System Organ Class (SOC) and Preferred Term (PT). Analyses of SAEs, fatal SAEs, and pIMDs were performed for up to 30 days and for 12 months after the last vaccination dose, but only analyses for 12 months after the last dose are presented here.

Descriptive data were generated by age strata. We clustered participants between 18 and 49 YOA (18–49 YOA) and participants 50 YOA and older (≥ 50 YOA). Because of the comparatively small sample sizes in the RZV groups in the auto-HSCT(I/II) and HIV studies, we were not able to generate meaningful data for age strata in these studies.

Results

Study Populations

Across six clinical trials, 1587 study participants who received at least one dose of RZV were evaluated and compared with 1529 participants who received at least one dose of placebo. Of all RZV recipients, 443 (27.9%) were between 18 and 49 YOA at study initiation and 1144 (72.1%) were ≥ 50 YOA at study initiation. Of all placebo recipients, 419 (27.4%) were in the 18–49 YOA stratum and 1110 (72.6%) were in the ≥ 50 YOA stratum.

Within each clinical trial, demographic characteristics were comparable between RZV and placebo recipients. Detailed demographic characteristics are provided in Table S1 in the ESM.

Reactogenicity

Recombinant zoster vaccine vaccination was associated with an increase in solicited local AEs compared with administration of placebo. The most frequently reported injection-site AE in both age strata was pain (Fig. S2 in the ESM). Most of the injection-site AEs were mild to moderate in intensity. In participants reporting injection-site AEs, the median duration of all AEs (pain, redness, and swelling) was 3 days in RZV recipients and varied from 1 to 2 days in placebo recipients. Grade 3 injection-site AEs were more common after administration of RZV compared with placebo (Fig. S2 in the ESM). Grade 3 redness and swelling were more common after dose 2 compared with dose 1. In RZV recipients reporting grade 3 injection-site AEs, the median duration was 1 day for pain and redness, and 2 days for swelling. In placebo recipients, the only grade 3 injection-site AE reported was pain, with a median duration of 2 days. More RZV recipients 18–49 YOA appeared to report injection-site pain compared with participants ≥ 50 YOA (Fig. S2 in the ESM). By sex, the incidence of redness and swelling at the injection site was higher in female than in male individuals.

Recombinant zoster vaccine vaccination was associated with an increase in solicited systemic AEs compared with administration of placebo (Fig. S3 in the ESM). Most solicited systemic AEs were mild to moderate in intensity. Most solicited systemic AEs were more common after dose 2 compared with dose 1. However, symptoms after the second dose were mild to moderate and transient in nature, and the compliance with the second vaccine dose remained over 90 %. Fatigue, myalgia, and headache were the most frequently reported solicited systemic AEs (Fig. S3 in the ESM). In participants reporting solicited systemic AEs, the median duration was generally comparable between RZV and placebo recipients, and varied from 1 to 3 days after RZV and from 1 to 5 days after placebo. Grade 3 solicited systemic AEs were more common after administration of RZV compared with placebo (Fig. S3 in the ESM). In RZV recipients reporting grade 3 solicited systemic AEs, the median duration was 1 day for all solicited systemic AEs except gastrointestinal symptoms, for which the median duration was 2 days. In placebo recipients, the median duration of grade 3 solicited systemic AEs varied from 1 to 3 days. More RZV recipients 18–49 YOA appeared to report solicited systemic AEs compared with RZV recipients ≥ 50 YOA (Fig. S3 in the ESM). This difference in solicited systemic AEs was apparent for all AEs except gastrointestinal symptoms, which were comparable between the age cohorts. By sex, the incidence of solicited systemic AEs was generally higher in female than in male individuals.

Unsolicited AEs

In all studies, the percentage of study participants reporting any unsolicited symptoms was comparable between RZV and placebo recipients (Fig. 1). The percentage of study participants reporting unsolicited AEs within any SOC did not differ between RZV and placebo recipients in any of the clinical trials. The only exception was “neoplasm benign, malignant, and unspecified,” reported by 2.1% of RZV and 7.9% of placebo recipients in the HM study (risk ratio: 0.27 [95% CI 0.09–0.68]; p = 0.0033).

Fig. 1.

Unsolicited adverse events (AEs). auto-HSCT(I/II) autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (phase I/II), auto-HSCT(III) autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (phase III), HIV human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults, HM hematologic malignancies patients, RT renal transplant recipients, RZV adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine, ST solid tumors patients

In the auto-HSCT(III), RT, HM, and HIV studies, the most frequently reported unsolicited AEs per MedDRA SOC in RZV and placebo groups were “infections and infestations,” “general disorders and administration site conditions,” and “gastrointestinal disorders”. In the ST study, “general disorders and administration site conditions,” “gastrointestinal disorders,” and “skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders” were most frequently reported. In the auto-HSCT(I/II) study, “skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders,” “respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders,” and “investigations” were most frequently reported (Table S2 in the ESM).

By MedDRA PT, most unsolicited AEs were reported by RZV and placebo recipients with comparable frequency (Table S2 in the ESM). The only exceptions were “upper respiratory tract infections”, reported by 3.2% of RZV and 0.4% of placebo recipients in the HM study (risk ratio: 8.87 [95% CI 1.23–388.9]; p = 0.0228) and “acute myeloid leukemia”, reported by 0.4% of RZV and 2.9% of placebo recipients in the HM study (risk ratio: 0.12 [95% CI 0.00–0.92]; p = 0.0371).

In the studies in which age-associated differences were assessed, the percentage of RZV recipients reporting any unsolicited symptoms was comparable between participants 18–49 YOA and participants ≥ 50 YOA (Fig. 2). By MedDRA SOC, most unsolicited AEs in RZV recipients were reported with comparable frequency by the populations 18–49 YOA and ≥ 50 YOA. Among the five most frequently reported unsolicited AEs by SOC, “musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders” was the only exception, which was more common in recipients ≥ 50 YOA than 18–49 YOA in the auto-HSCT(III) study (Fig. 2). In the ≥ 50 YOA stratum, the percentage of participants reporting any unsolicited AE within the SOC of “musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders” in the auto-HSCT(III) study was comparable between RZV and placebo recipients (6.5% [95% CI 4.8–8.6] and 4.5% [95% CI 3.1–6.3], respectively), as in all studies.

Fig. 2.

Unsolicited adverse events (AEs) by age. a Adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) and placebo in autologous hematopoietic cell transplant recipients [phase III] (Bastidas et al. [42]); b RZV and placebo in renal transplant recipients (Vink et al. [45]); c RZV and placebo in patients with hematologic malignancies (Dagnew et al. [43]); and d RZV and placebo in patients with solid organ tumors (Vink et al. [46]). Note: Figure panels present the percentage of RZV recipients reporting at least one unsolicited adverse event categorized under that Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) System Organ Class (SOC). Only the five SOCs with the greatest percentage of RZV recipients reporting any event are presented here. Because of the comparatively small sample sizes in the RZV groups in the studies with autologous hematopoietic cell transplant recipients (phase I/II) and human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults, we were not able to generate meaningful data for age strata in these studies

SAEs

The percentage of study participants reporting any SAE, including fatal SAEs, from the first dose until 12 months after receiving the last vaccination, was comparable between RZV and placebo recipients in all six studies (Fig. 3 and Table S3 in the ESM). The percentage of study participants reporting SAEs within any single SOC did not differ between RZV and placebo recipients in any of the clinical trials, with the exception of “gastrointestinal disorders,” which were reported more frequently in placebo recipients in the HM study (Table S3 in the ESM).

Fig. 3.

Serious adverse events (SAEs). auto-HSCT(I/II) autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (phase I/II), auto-HSCT(III) autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (phase III), HM hematologic malignancies patients, HIV human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults, RT, renal transplant recipients, RZV adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine, ST solid tumors patients

In general, the most frequently reported SAEs in RZV and placebo recipients were within the SOC “infections and infestations”. Reflecting underlying disease in study participants, “neoplasms benign, malignant, and unspecified” were frequently reported in the auto-HSCT(III), HM, ST, and auto-HSCT(I/II) trials. Reported SAEs within other SOCs varied greatly between trials (Table S3 in the ESM). No single SAE was reported substantially more frequently by either RZV or placebo recipients in any of the trials (Table S3 in the ESM). The occurrence of an SAE was the most common reason for withdrawal from the study or treatment (in 9.6% of study participants), participant withdrawal was balanced between the RZV and placebo recipients, and 78.4% of vaccinated participants completed the trials.

Within each age cohort, the percentage of study participants reporting SAEs was comparable between RZV and placebo recipients in all trials (Fig. 4). Recombinant zoster vaccine recipients ≥ 50 YOA generally reported more SAEs than those 18–49 YOA (Fig. 4). There were no apparent differences in the incidence of SAEs between RZV and placebo recipients within either age stratum, except, in the auto-HSCT(III) trial, Hodgkin’s disease was reported more frequently in the 18–49 YOA stratum (3.9% [95% CI 1.8–7.3]) than the ≥ 50 YOA stratum (0 [95% CI 0.0–0.5]) and plasma cell myeloma was reported more frequently in the ≥ 50 YOA stratum (7.7% [95% CI 5.8–9.9]) than in the 18–49 YOA stratum (2.6% [95% CI 1.0–5.6]) of the RZV treatment arm. For these PTs, a similar trend was observed in the placebo group. Placebo recipients 18–49 YOA reported more frequently Hodgkin’s disease (0.9% [95% CI 0.1–3.1]) than those ≥ 50 YOA (0 [95% CI 0.0–0.5]) and placebo recipients ≥ 50 YOA reported more frequently plasma myeloma (5.2% [95% CI 3.7–7.1]) than those 18–49 YOA (2.2% [95% CI 0.7–5.0]).

Fig. 4.

Serious adverse events (SAEs) by age. a Adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine RZV and placebo in autologous hematopoietic cell transplant recipients [phase III] (Bastidas et al. [42]); b RZV and placebo in renal transplant recipients (Vink et al. [45]); c RZV and placebo in patients with hematologic malignancies (Dagnew et al. [43]); and d RZV and placebo in patients with solid organ tumors (Vink et al. [46]). Figure panels present the percentage of RZV recipients reporting at least one unsolicited adverse event categorized under that Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) System Organ Class (SOC). Only the five SOCs with the greatest percentage of RZV participants reporting any event are presented here. Because of the comparatively small sample sizes in the RZV groups in the studies with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (phase I/II) and human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults, we were not able to generate meaningful data for age strata in these studies

Fatal SAEs

The percentage of study participants with a fatal SAE, from the first dose until 12 months after receiving the last vaccination, was comparable between RZV and placebo recipients in all studies (Fig. 5 and Table S4 in the ESM). Most fatal SAEs were categorized under “neoplasms benign, malignant, and unspecified” and “infections and infestations.” There were no apparent differences between RZV and placebo recipients in fatal SAEs reported by SOC or PT.

Fig. 5.

Fatal serious adverse events (SAEs). auto-HSCT(I/II) autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (phase I/II), auto-HSCT(III) autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (phase III), HM hematologic malignancies patients, HIV human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults, RT renal transplant recipients, RZV adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine, ST solid tumors patients. The auto-HSCT(I/II) study includes data for both groups receiving two and three doses of RZV, respectively

In all studies, the percentage of RZV recipients with a fatal SAE was higher in participants ≥ 50 YOA than in participants 18–49 YOA (Fig. 6). There were no differences in the incidence of any fatal SAEs between RZV and placebo recipients within either age stratum at the SOC and PT levels in any of the clinical trials, except for plasma cell myeloma in the auto-HSCT(III) study, which was reported more frequently in the ≥ 50 YOA stratum (4.2% [95% CI 2.8–6.0]) than in the 18–49 YOA stratum (0.4% [95% CI 0.0–2.4]) in the RZV group. Similarly, this PT was more frequently reported in placebo recipients ≥ 50 YOA (3.7% [95% CI 2.5–5.4]) than in those 18–49 YOA (1.3% [95% CI 0.3–3.8]).

Fig. 6.

Fatal serious adverse events (SAEs) by age. a Adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) and placebo in autologous hematopoietic cell transplant recipients [phase III] (Bastidas et al. [42]); b RZV and placebo in renal transplant recipients (Vink et al. [45]); c RZV and placebo in patients with hematologic malignancies (Dagnew et al. [43]); and d RZV and placebo in patients with solid organ tumors (Vink et al. [46]). Figure panels present the percentage of RZV recipients reporting at least one unsolicited adverse event categorized under that Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) System Organ Class (SOC). Only the five SOCs with the greatest percentage of RZV participants reporting any event are presented here. Because of the comparatively small sample sizes in the RZV groups in the studies with autologous hematopoietic cell transplant recipients (phase I/II) and human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults, we were not able to generate meaningful data for age strata in these studies

pIMDs

In all studies, the percentage of study participants reporting at least one pIMD was comparable between RZV and placebo recipients (Table S5 in the ESM). The most frequently reported pIMDs were not clustered within any specific SOC (Table S5 in the ESM).

Discussion

We presented a comprehensive overview of safety data from six clinical trials comparing RZV and placebo in patients who were immunosuppressed because of underlying diseases and/or therapy and included the following five distinct populations: auto-HSCT recipients, patients with HM (e.g., multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma), patients with ST (e.g., breast tumor, colorectal cancer, lung cancer), RT recipients, and patients with HIV. All studies in the IC program were placebo controlled and had similar design and methods for assessing many prespecified safety events.

Overall, no safety concern was identified in any of the populations studied. In all trials, the incidence of unsolicited AEs, SAEs, fatal SAEs, and pIMDs was generally balanced between RZV and placebo groups. There were, however, marked differences in the incidence of unsolicited AEs and SAEs between studies. We consider that these differences result from the heterogenicity of the underlying diseases and therapies of the IC study populations in the development program, the baseline status of the participants, as well as the timing of vaccinations in relation to immunosuppressive treatments. Most participants with ST were vaccinated before the initiation of chemotherapy (a small number were vaccinated at the start of and concurrently with a chemotherapeutic cycle; see primary publication for details [44]), the majority of patients with HM were vaccinated after the completion of the chemotherapy course, whereas participants in the auto-HSCT(I/II) and auto-HSCT(III) studies were undergoing post-transplant immune reconstruction, and patients receiving a RT were undergoing post-transplant immunosuppressive regimens when they were administered RZV.

Vaccine reactogenicity was analyzed for the pooled data from all IC studies. Recombinant zoster vaccine is associated with increased local and systemic AEs. The reactogenicity profile of RZV in the IC populations studied here did not differ markedly from that observed in healthy adults ≥ 50 YOA [40, 41]. This suggests that underlying medical conditions and concomitant therapies do not negatively affect vaccine reactogenicity beyond what is seen in adults who are generally healthy. We note, however, that the percentage of placebo recipients reporting solicited systemic AEs was substantially greater in IC populations compared with the general population of older adults [44], which is likely owing to their underlying conditions and treatment that can also be associated with symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

We observed a general trend toward a lower incidence of systemic AEs in the older age cohort compared with participants 18–49 YOA. In line with these findings, we previously reported that the number of study participants reporting solicited AEs after RZV vaccination decreased with age in studies in older adults [44]. These differences might be due to a higher tolerance to pain and illness symptoms gained with life experience and/or waning innate immune defense mechanisms, as supported by the observation that older people display lower systemic levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and C-reactive protein after vaccination that could contribute to their tendency to report fewer systemic AEs [49, 50].

Overall, the incidence of unsolicited AEs was balanced between RZV and placebo recipients in all phase III IC trials. No unsolicited AEs per any MedDRA SOC were reported more frequently by RZV than placebo recipients, and this was true for both the overall population and for the populations in either age stratum. Therefore, we consider that the additional burden of RZV is limited in these IC populations that are already subject to a multitude of AEs associated with their underlying disease and medical therapies.

Overall, the majority of unsolicited AEs were infections and infestations, most commonly upper respiratory tract infections, which are common in the populations under study. The increase in “upper respiratory tract infection” (MedDRA PT) in RZV recipients was statistically significant in the HM study, but a difference was only seen in that trial. Similarly, “acute myeloid leukemia” (MedDRA PT) was observed significantly more often in placebo recipients in the HM study, with no difference observed in other trials. An additional analysis grouping upper respiratory tract infections with other PTs of the same medical context (high-level term: upper respiratory tract infections) did not show evidence of an increased risk of these infections following vaccination with RZV (data not shown).

In general, there was no apparent difference in the incidence of unsolicited AEs between participants 18–49 YOA and those ≥ 50 YOA, with the exception of “musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders” in the auto-HSCT(III) efficacy study, which was among the five most frequently reported unsolicited AEs and occurred more commonly in older participants. Because we did not see these differences in the other studies, and the incidence was relatively low with an overlap in CIs, we consider that these were chance findings.

Our findings show that RZV vaccination is not associated with an increase in the incidence of SAEs and fatal SAEs, as these were balanced between RZV and placebo recipients. The incidence of SAEs and fatal SAEs was much greater in the ≥ 50 YOA age stratum in our study populations compared with previously studied populations of non-IC older adults [44], with the exception of fatal SAEs in the RT study, which only occurred in participants ≥ 50 YOA. This increased number of SAEs is due to underlying malignancies; for most of the fatal SAEs, although the time to occurrence was too long for any temporal association with vaccination, no imbalance between RZV and placebo recipients was observed. Most SAEs were reported under the MedDRA SOCs of “infections and infestations” and “neoplasms benign, malignant, and unspecified,” in line with expectations for IC populations.

As for all adjuvanted vaccines, we carefully monitored the incidence of pIMDs following standardized disease-specific questionnaires [51]. Even though there are theoretic risks for pIMDs associated with adjuvanted vaccines, we have not previously seen any association between RZV vaccination and the onset or exacerbation of pIMDs in older adults [44]. The prevalence of pIMDs is rare and can vary depending on underlying conditions [52]. In the studies presented here, we did not find any indication of an imbalance in the incidence of both new onset and exacerbation of pIMDs between RZV and placebo recipients and no clusters in the nature of these AEs. However, the statistical power of clinical trials to detect very rare events is limited by the relatively small sample sizes, and we are therefore committed to continuing the evaluation of rare events such as pIMDs during post-licensure monitoring, where a larger population will be vaccinated.

The analyses present a number of limitations. The heterogeneity of the underlying diseases and treatment profiles may impact different aspects of the immune system in the patient populations presented in this article. In addition, the auto-HSCT(III) efficacy study contributed approximately 60% of the study participants. Finally, because of the fact that the conditions studied are more frequent with increasing age, over 70% of participants who received at least one dose of RZV in the IC clinical studies were 50 YOA or older.

Nonetheless, considering that the IC populations assessed are amongst the most medically vulnerable, we consider that the safety data generated are relevant to the ≥ 18 YOA population at risk for HZ because of immunodeficiency or immunosuppression caused by disease and/or treatment. Moreover, because the immunosuppressive and immunomodulating treatments used in these populations are also widely used to treat other underlying conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions, we believe that the currently available data can be informative for the broad population of adults who is at increased risk of HZ, including those patients with an immunodeficiency or immunosuppression caused by disease or therapy.

Conclusions

Together with the vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity data that were previously published, the safety results support a favorable benefit-risk profile of RZV vaccination in IC adults 18 YOA and older.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Declaration

Funding

This study was sponsored and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA was involved in all stages of the conduct and analysis of the studies and covered the costs associated with the development and the publishing of the present article.

Conflicts of interest/Competing interests

Maribel Co-van der Mee, Pierre Beukelaers, Juan Jose Fernandez Garcia, and Fernanda Tavares-da-Silva are employed by the GSK group of companies. Marta López-Fauqued, Juan Jose Fernandez Garcia, Adriana Bastidas, Alemnew F. Dagnew, and Anne Schuind were employees of the GSK group of companies during the design, initiation, conduct of the study and/or interpretation of the data. During the conduct of the study, Pierre Beukelaers, Juan Jose Fernandez Garcia, and Fernanda Tavares-da-Silva report personal fees from the GSK group of companies. Adriana Bastidas, Pierre Beukelaers, Alemnew F. Dagnew, Anne Schuind, and Fernanda Tavares-da-Silva hold shares in the GSK group of companies.

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Availability of data and material

Not applicable.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Authors’ contributions

MLF, AB, and FTS contributed to the concept and design of the study. MLF, MC, AD, and FTS contributed to data generation and collection. FTS, PB, and AD contributed to the additional analysis of data. MLF, MC, AB, PB, AD, AS, JJFG, and FTS contributed to the analysis and interpretation of the data. All authors contributed to the writing/reviewing of the manuscript and approved the final version for submission. All authors vouch for the completeness and accuracy of all the data and the presented analyses.