A Phase 2/3 observer-blind, randomized, controlled study to determine the safety and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein vaccine in Indian children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years
Authors: Gunale Bhagwat , Kapse Dhananjay , Kar Sonali , Bavdekar Ashish , Kohli Sunil , Lalwani Sanjay , Meshram Sushant , Raut Abhishek , Kulkarni Praveen , Samuel Clarence , Munshi Renuka , Gupta Madhu , Plested Joyce , Cloney-Clarke Shane , Zhu MingZhu , Pryor Melinda , Hamilton Stephanie , Thakar Madhuri , Shete Ashwini , Dharmadhikari Abhijeet , Bhamare Chetanraj , Shaligram Umesh , Poonawalla Cyrus S. , Mallory Raburn M. , Glenn Gregory M , Kulkarni Prasad S. ,   the COVOVAX-Ped Study Group
Published: January 2023

Background

A recombinant, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine, SII-NVX-CoV2373 was manufactured in India and evaluated in Indian children and adolescents to assess safety and immunogenicity.

Methods

This was a Phase 2/3 observer-blind, randomized, controlled immuno-bridging study in children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years. Participants were randomly assigned in 3:1 ratio to receive two doses of SII-NVX-CoV2373 or placebo on day 1 and day 22. Solicited adverse events (AEs) were collected for 7 days after each vaccination. Unsolicited AEs were collected for 35 days following first dose and serious AEs (SAEs) and adverse events of special interest (AESI) were collected throughout the study. Anti S IgG and neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 were measured at baseline, day 22, day 36 and day 180. Variant immune responses were assessed in a subset of participants at baseline, day 36 and day 180. Primary objectives were to demonstrate non-inferiority of SII-NVX-CoV2373 in each pediatric age group (12 to 17 years and 2 to 11 years, separately) to that in adults in terms of ratio of titers of both anti-S IgG and neutralizing antibodies 14 days after the second dose (day 36). Non-inferiority was to be concluded if the lower bound of 95% CI of the ratio was >0.67.

Results

A total of 920 children and adolescents (460 in each age cohort; 12 to 17 years and 2 to 11 years) were randomized and vaccinated. The demographic and baseline characteristics between the two groups were comparable in both age groups. After the second dose, there were more than 100-fold rise in anti-S IgG GMEUs and more than 84-fold rise in neutralizing antibodies GMTs from baseline in the participants who received SII-NVX-CoV2373. The lower bound of 95% CI of GMT ratios for anti-S IgG GMEUs and neutralizing antibodies in both age groups to those observed in Indian adults were >0.67, thus non-inferiority was met [Anti-S IgG GMT ratios 1.52 (1.38, 1.67), 1.20 (1.08, 1.34) and neutralizing antibodies GMT ratios 1.93 (1.70, 2.18), 1.33 (1.17, 1.50) for 2 to 11 years and 12 to 17 years groups, respectively]. The seroconversion rate was ≥ 98% (anti-S IgG) and ≥ 97.9 % (neutralizing antibodies) in both age groups, respectively. Similar findings were seen in the baseline seronegative participants. SII-NVX-CoV2373 also showed robust responses against various variants of concern. Injection site pain, tenderness, swelling, erythema and fever, headache, malaise, fatigue, were the common (≥5%) solicited adverse events which were transient and resolved without any sequelae. Throughout the study, only two causally unrelated SAEs and no AESI were reported.

Conclusion

SII-NVX-CoV2373 has been found safe and well tolerated in children and adolescents of 2 to 17 years. The vaccine was highly immunogenic and the immune response was non-inferior to that in adults.

Registration - CTRI No. CTRI/2021/02/031554