Boosting teenagers with acellular pertussis vaccines containing recombinant or chemically inactivated pertussis toxin: A randomized clinical trial

Background Protection induced by acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines is partial and short-lived, especially in teenagers, calling for novel immunization strategies. Methods We conducted an investigator-driven proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial in aP-primed adolescents in Geneva to assess the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a novel recombinant aP (r-aP) vaccine including recombinant pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) coadministered with tetanus-diphtheria toxoids (Td), compared to a licensed tetanus-diphtheria-aP vaccine containing chemically detoxified PT (cd/Tdap). The primary immunological endpoints were day 28/365 geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of total and neutralizing anti-PT antibodies. Memory B cells were assessed. Results Sixty-two aP-primed adolescents were randomized and vaccinated with r-aP + Td or cd/Tdap. Reactogenicity, adverse events, and baseline GMCs were similar between the groups. Day 28 PT-neutralizing GMCs were low after cd/Tdap (73.91 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 49.88–109.52] IU/mL) and approximately 2-fold higher after r-aP + Td (127.68 [95% CI, 96.73–168.53] IU/mL; P = .0162). Anti-PT GMCs were also low after cd/Tdap (52.43 [95% CI, 36.41–75.50] IU/mL) and 2-fold higher after r-aP + Td (113.74 [95% CI, 88.31–146.50] IU/mL; P = .0006). Day 28 anti-FHA GMCs were similar in both groups. Day 365 anti-PT (but not PT-neutralizing) GMCs remained higher in r-aP + Td vaccinees. PT-specific memory B cells increased significantly after r-aP + Td but not cd/Tdap boosting. Conclusions Boosting aP-primed adolescents with r-aP induced higher anti-PT and PT-neutralizing responses than cd/Tdap and increased PT-specific memory B cells. Despite this superior immunogenicity, r-aP may have to be given repeatedly, earlier, and/or with novel adjuvants to exert an optimal influence in aP-primed subjects. Clinical Trials Registration NCT02946190.