Revaccination With PPS23 Boosted or Not by PCV13 in Splenectomised Patients.

This research is a multi-center French randomized and double blind phase IIb clinical trial evaluating 2 revaccination strategies against pneumococcal infections among splenectomised patients. The main objective is to evaluate at M13 the immunological response of 2 pneumococcal revaccination strategies (combined revaccination by a boost dose of PCV13 following 12 months later by PPS23, versus PPS23 alone) in splenectomised adults.

For the prevention of invasive pneumococcal diseases, two polysaccharide vaccines are currently available: a non-conjugate vaccine, Pneumovax® (PPS23), and a conjugate vaccine, Prevenar13® (PCV13), inducing protection against 23 and 13 pneumococcal serotypes, respectively. The PPS23 is considered weakly immunogenic, especially in infants, elderly and immunocompromised patients, while PCV13 is now available for adults. In France, in April 2017, the new recommendations for at risk patients including asplenic patients are to revaccinate by PPS23 at least five years after the previous PPS23. However a phenomenon of vaccine hyporesponsiveness and a risk of immune tolerance to pneumococcus after repeated administrations of PPS23 are described. Large doses of polysaccharide antigens recruit memory and naive B cells, resulting in the production of low and high avidity antibodies, while low doses only stimulate memory B cells, inducing high affinity antibodies. Because of that, Swiss current recommendations are to revaccinate with PCV13 at 5 years the splenectomised patients. The recommendations of revaccination by PPS23 for USA or PCV13 for Switzerland have never been evaluated in clinical trial. Moreover, using combined PCV13/PPS23 could increase serotype coverage. Studying the immune response following combined revaccination by a boost dose of PCV13 following by PPS23 versus PPS23 alone will help to document and improve the vaccine recommendations.

The main objective is to evaluate at M13 the immunological response of 2 pneumococcal revaccination strategies (combined revaccination by a boost dose of PCV13 following 12 months later by PPS23, versus PPS23 alone), in splenectomised adults.

The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients responding to a minimum of 5 of the 9 serotypes analysed (9 serotypes among the 12 common serotypes to both PPS23 and PCV13: 1, 3, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 19A, 19F, and 23F) at M13 in each arm. A responder to a serotype is defined as a four-fold increase of the rate of OPA (OpsonoPhagocytic Assay) compared to baseline and titer ≥ LLOQ (Lower Limit of Quantification).

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18 years
2. Splenectomised patients.
3. For patients not enrolled in SPLENEVAC clinical trial: presence of Jolly Body at blood smear and spelenectomy confirmation by abdominal ultrasound.
4. Vaccinated according to the schedule of SPLENEVAC clinical trial (PCV13 / PPS23 two months later (until +4 months)), enrolled or not from this study. Vaccination of PPS23 must have been administered 5 years - 6 months/+ 1 year before inclusion.
5. Patients will be followed during the 24 months from the inclusion visit.
6. Patients must give written informed consent prior to any trial procedure.
7. Women of childbearing age must have an effective contraception during the first 13 months of the study.
8. Patients must be covered by social security regimen or equivalent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of pneumococcal revaccination in the last five years.
2. Having received any another vaccines within 4 weeks prior to enrolment or who is planning to receive any vaccine (for example: ZOSTAVAX®) within the first 13 months of the study (excepted seasonal influenza vaccine which is permitted 4 weeks before and after each vaccination visit of the study and then allowed at any time during the study follow up. Furthermore, the vaccination against Sars-CoV-2 is allowed during the study with a minimum interval of 14 days between pneumococcal vaccine and Sars-Cov-2 vaccine injection)
3. History of known allergies to any component of both study vaccines (active substances, excipients or diphtheria toxoid).
4. History of anaphylactic reaction following vaccination.
5. Infusion of immunoglobulins within the three months preceding the inclusion.
6. Any pathology or condition that may impair the immune response, apart from splenectomy: immunosuppressive therapy in progress or in the 6 months prior to inclusion, hematopoietic stem cells allo / autograft, primary immunodeficiency, nephrotic syndrome, progressive neoplasia, evolutive cancer, cirrhosis, known infection to HIV and / or hepatitis B virus (HBV) (HBs Ag +) and / or hepatitis C virus (HCV), taking corticosteroids \> 10mg for more than 14 days within the month preceding the inclusion , inhaled corticosteroid and cutaneous topical being allowed.
7. Coagulation disorder contra-indicating intramuscularly injections.
8. Acute respiratory tract infection or severe acute febrile illness or systemic reaction which could represent a significant risk in case of vaccination within the month before inclusion.
9. Pregnancy, breastfeeding or positive pregnancy test up to 13 months after inclusion.
10. History of suspected or documented invasive pneumococcal infection within the year before inclusion.
11. Immunosuppressive factors associated.
12. Enrolment in any other clinical trial during the whole trial period except observational study.
13. Adults under protection