Issue: May 2013
April 17, 2013
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Quadrivalent flu vaccines show good immunogenicity against added B strain

Issue: May 2013
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Phase 3 clinical trial data of GlaxoSmithKline’s quadrivalent influenza vaccine are showing “superior immunogenicity for the additional B strain” over the trivalent influenza vaccine, according to results published online.

Perspective from Henry H. Bernstein, DO

Joseph B. Domachowske, MD, of Upstate Medical University, and colleagues reported results of a trial in which 2,738 children aged 3 to 17 years from the United States, Czech Republic, France, Germany and the Philippines were randomly assigned to receive one of the two vaccines.

Joseph Domachowske, MD 

Joseph B. Domachowske

“[Quadrivalent influenza vaccine, (QIV)] was highly immunogenic; seroconversion rates were 91.4%, 72.3%, 70.0%, and 72.5% against A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/Victoria, and B/Yamagata, respectively,” the researchers concluded. “Reactogenicity and safety of QIV was consistent with TIV.”

Domachowske and colleagues noted two potential limitations to the study, specifically that natural exposure to influenza could have been a confounding factor, and that the immunogenicity data provided no information on the magnitude of protection against influenza B illness.

“QIVs contain an added B-lineage strain not included in TIVs,” Domachowske told Infectious Diseases in Children. “Our multicenter, phase 3 pediatric clinical vaccine trial demonstrated safety and immunogenicity of a new inactivated QIV that was similar to both comparator trivalent vaccines, with enhanced antibody responses to the added B strain. The availability of safe and immunogenic QIV vaccines offers a new strategy to broaden protection of children against influenza infection.”

The researchers said their findings indicate that QIV provides a good alternative to TIV, particularly in years of B strain “mismatch.”

Joseph B. Domachowske, MD, can be reached at Upstate Medical University, Department of Pediatrics, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, NY 13210; phone: 315-464-7577; email: domachoj@upstate.edu.

Disclosure: All participating institutions received compensation from GlaxoSmithKline for study involvement.