MO283IMPACT OF VIS649, AN APRIL-NEUTRALIZING IGG2 MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY, ON TETANUS- AND DIPHTHERIA-TOXOID VACCINATION-ELICITED IMMUNE RESPONSES IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS: PHASE 1, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY
Authors: Barratt Jonathan , Mathur Mohit , Suzuki Yusuke , Engler Frank , Yarbrough Jill , Sloan Susan , Oldach David 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Background and Aims
VIS649, a humanized immunoglobulin G (IgG2) monoclonal antibody that binds to and blocks the biological actions of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), is in clinical development as a potential treatment for immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN). In a Phase 1 study, VIS649 was associated with dose-dependent reductions in serum IgA, IgG and IgM, which were reversible and showed a dose-response effect with respect to time-to-recovery. The aim of the present analysis was to determine if VIS649 suppression of APRIL influences antibody responses to tetanus and diphtheria toxoid vaccination.

Method
This was a Phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study of VIS649 in healthy adult male and female volunteers (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03719443). In one cohort within the study, participants were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive intravenous administration of VIS649 6.0 mg/kg or placebo, followed by a vaccine composed of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (TENIVAC®, Sanofi Pasteur Limited), in order to evaluate the effect of VIS649 on recipients’ ability to generate a vaccine booster response (exploratory endpoint). Participants received intravenous administration of study drug on Day 1, were discharged from the institution on Day 2, received a single intramuscular dose of vaccine at the Week 4 visit, and were followed for 16 weeks in total on an outpatient basis. Blood samples were taken at regular intervals, and anti-tetanus toxoid and anti-diphtheria toxoid IgG, IgM and IgA quantitative ELISA assays were performed. Tetanus and diphtheria anti-toxoid IgG titers ≥0.1 IU/mL are generally considered to be protective.

Results
In the vaccination cohort, 15 participants were randomized and dosed with study drug or placebo, of whom 14 completed the study, and one participant who received VIS649 was lost to follow-up prior to receiving the vaccine. Both groups (placebo and VIS649) demonstrated increased tetanus anti-toxoid IgG titers following immunization, with a mean 7.9-fold increase in IU/mL at Week 6 for placebo recipients and a mean 6.4-fold increase in IU/mL for VIS649 recipients (Figure). At visits after Week 6, tetanus anti-toxoid IgG titers declined faster in the VIS649 group than in the placebo group (consistent with the reduction in total IgG associated with VIS649 administration) but remained above the protective threshold of 0.1 IU/mL for all participants throughout the study. Similar trends were observed for diphtheria anti-toxoid IgG titers, with a mean 5.5-fold increase in IU/mL at the Week 6 visit for placebo recipients and a mean 5.1-fold increase for VIS649 recipients (Figure). There was no evidence of tetanus- or diphtheria-toxoid elicited IgM responses in either the placebo or VIS649 groups, consistent with the recall nature of the vaccination. In a post hoc analysis, pre-existing serum tetanus/diphtheria anti-toxoid IgA titers fell between Day 1 and Week 4 in the VIS649 group, consistent with the overall suppression of total serum IgA, were boosted after vaccination in both groups, and declined faster in the VIS649 recipients thereafter.

Conclusion
VIS649 treatment did not interfere with participants’ ability to mount an antigen-specific serum IgG or IgA boost response to tetanus and diphtheria toxoid vaccination. There was no evidence of tetanus- or diphtheria-specific IgM responses in either the placebo or VIS649 groups, consistent with recall vaccination exposure. These data indicate that qualitative antibody responses are preserved during APRIL suppression.