Safety and Tolerability of Herpes Zoster Vaccine Rheumatologic Patients

The reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) (herpes zoster (HZ)) is of substantial public health concern. Updated ACR recommendations for RA treatment suggest that RA patients aged ≥ 50 years should be vaccinated before receiving biologic or tofacitinib therapy. The Investigators therefore propose a prospective study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a zoster vaccine (Zostavax) in patients with RA, administered at least 2 weeks prior to initiation of anti-TNF biologic and tofacitinib therapy for RA.

This is a 6-week open-label prospective multi-center study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of Zostavax vaccine in the RA population prior to initiation of biologic/tofacitinib therapy for RA. VZV-specific immune response to vaccine in RA patients will be compared to healthy control subjects ≥ 50 years immunized with Zostavax.

Safety and Tolerability of Herpes Zoster Vaccine in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Immunized prior to biologics and tofacitinib therapy initiation Background The reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) (herpes zoster (HZ)) is of substantial public health concern. Its predilection for the elderly and immunosuppressed make it an important cause of morbidity, causing pain, depression, and long-term disability in the form of post-herpetic neuralgia. The risk of HZ is increased by 1.5 to 2 times in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with the general population.This increase has been attributed to both the underlying disease process and treatments for RA, in particular, corticosteroids, TNFα blocking agents, rituximab, and tofacitinib.

A live attenuated zoster vaccine, administered as a single subcutaneous injection, reduces HZ risk by 70% and 51% among immunocompetent individuals 50 to 59 years and 60 years and older in 2 randomized blinded trials, respectively.

Updated ACR recommendations for RA treatment suggest that RA patients aged ≥ 50 years should be vaccinated before receiving biologic or tofacitinib therapy. Yet, the real world data proves that only minority of RA patients initiating biologic therapy are vaccinated for herpes zoster.

The safety concern is that these individuals may develop varicella infection from the vaccine virus strain. Recently, zoster vaccine safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity were prospectively tested in patients on chronic low-medium dose of corticosteroid therapy. Zoster vaccine was generally well tolerated and immunogenic in this patient population.

Based on the VZV incubation period, the first 42 days following vaccination was chosen as the primary safety risk window in the Shingles Prevention Study, a randomized blinded trial that preceded the FDA approval of the vaccine.

The investigators therefore propose a prospective study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a zoster vaccine (Zostavax) in patients with RA, administered at least 2 weeks prior to initiation of anti-TNF biologic and tofacitinib therapy for RA. The study will specifically focus on the zoster vaccine related adverse events, including injection site reactions, the development of zoster-like lesions, and the rates of clinical herpes zoster.

Study Objective:

1. To evaluate the rate of adverse reactions, injection site reactions, and development of zoster-like lesions following Zostavax administration.
2. To evaluate the rate of clinical herpes zoster events after initiation of biologic and small molecule therapies for RA following Zostavax administration.
3. To evaluate the immunogenicity of Zostavax in RA patients immunized 2 weeks prior to biologic or tofacitinib therapy.

Study Design:

This is a 6-week open-label prospective multi-center study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of Zostavax vaccine in the RA population prior to initiation of biologic/tofacitinib therapy for RA. VZV-specific immune response to vaccine in RA patients will be compared to healthy control subjects ≥ 50 years immunized with Zostavax.

Healthy volunteers will be recruited from hospital staff and from relatives of patients who agreed to participate in this studyNine Rheumatology Departments across Israel only will participate in the study. These centers are Tel Aviv Medical Center, Sheba Medical Center, Assaf Harofe Medical Center, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Rabin Medical Center, Bnei Tsion Medical Center, Rambam MedicaL Center, Hahemek Medical center, Carmel Medical Center.

Vaccine Information:

ZOSTAVAX is a lyophilized preparation of live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus (Oka/Merck strain) to be reconstituted with sterile diluent to give a single dose suspension with a minimum of 19,400 PFU (plaque forming units) when stored at room temperature for up to 30 minutes. It is administered as a single subcutaneous injection into the deltoid region of the upper arm.

Study Visits:

Screening Visit/Vaccination The study Investigator will discuss, with each subject, the nature of the study, its requirements, and its restrictions. Written informed consent must be obtained prior performance of any protocol specific procedures. Upon recruitment, patients will be examined by a treating rheumatologist, in order to verify the diagnosis of RA and review the pertinent to vaccination medical history. Patients will be subsequently assessed for RA disease activity.

Procedures to be performed during the screening period include:

Informed Consent Confirmation of RA diagnosis and Classification of RA: subject must have a score of 6 or greater on the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis Medical History as pertinent to HZ vaccination including history of prior and concomitant medications, history of any prior episodes of herpes zoster, and zoster vaccine history.

Assessment of RA activity:

Blood test (ESR, CRP), varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibody titers by glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (gpELISA), (will be carried out centrally at tel Aviv Sourasky medical center Immunology laboratory) and future analysis (excluding any genetic tests).

After the screening, the eligible patients who provided the informed consent, will be administered the zoster vaccine.

2- week phone interview based follow up/ Biologic or tofacitinib treatment initiation (etanercept and tofacitinib will comprise 80% of total therapies) At the 2-week visit, vaccine safety will be assessed. Following a two-week interval from the zoster vaccine administration, biologic or tofacitinib treatment will be initiated as scheduled by a treating rheumatologist.

Importantly, no biologic treatment of any kind would be provided by the study project.

4- week phone interview follow up Vaccine safety and adverse effects assessment. 6- week visit Vaccine safety and adverse effects assessment. Assessment of RA activity. Subject Withdrawal Subjects may withdraw from the study at any time at their own request.

Assessments:

Assessment of RA Disease Activity At each study visit, patients will be subsequently assessed for RA disease activity Patient Assessment of Arthritis Pain Patient Global Assessment of Arthritis. Physician Global Assessment of Arthritis Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Safety Assessment Any adverse reactions/events following zoster vaccine administration will be registered and assessed.

Injection site adverse reactions:

Local pain/erythema/swelling/pruritus/warmth/hematoma/induration Hypersensitivity Post vaccination non-injection-site zoster-like and varicella-like rashes Post vaccination herpes zoster occurrence Systemic adverse reactions Progression/worsening of underlying disease

Adverse effects will be defined according to the following definitions:

MILD Does not interfere with subject's usual function. MODERATE Interferes to some extent with subject's usual function. SEVERE Interferes significantly with subject's usual function.

Blood tests Samples of 15 cc blood only will be taken at two visits: pre-vaccination and post-vaccination (6 weeks). VZV antibody titers will be measured by commercially available ELISA kits.

All data will be deidentified. Only the principal investigator will have access to the table key linking the data sets with personally identifiable information. The study documents will be kept locked at department of rheumatology. The study will be financed by the research funds of the principal investigator.

Eligibility Criteria:
For RA arm:

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Evidence of a personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject (or a legally acceptable representative) has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study.
2. Patients fulfilling the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Classification Criteria for RA scheduled for a biologic or small molecule therapy (80% candidates for etanercept or tofacitinib therapies.)
3. Only subjects who are ≥ 50 years old will be administered the zoster vaccine.
4. Subjects who are willing and able to comply with scheduled visits and other study procedures
5. Patients on biologics may participate after a washout period as indicated below :

   1. Etanercept : 2 weeks
   2. Infliximab, Golimumab, Adalimumab : 35 days
   3. Tocilizumab and Abatacept SC : 2 weeks
   4. Tocilizumab and Abatacept IV : 35 days

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction to gelatin, neomycin, or any other component of the vaccine.
2. Previous vaccination with any VZV-containing vaccine.
3. Any type of malignancy, ongoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
4. Patients who underwent solid organ transplantation.
5. Patients with AIDS or clinical manifestations of HIV
6. Patients treated with a TNFa inhibitor at the time of recruitment or patients within a year of rituximab administration.
7. Patients receiving daily corticosteroid therapy with a dose ≥10 mg/day of prednisone (or equivalent) for ≥ 14 days and/or methotrexate at the dose above 0.4 mg per kg per week.
8. Patients with an active herpes zoster infection or previous herpes zoster less than 6 months before recruitment.
9. Vaccination with any live vaccine within 4 weeks prevaccination, any inactivated vaccine within 7 days prevaccination, or either during the study period.
10. Blood products transfusion within 5 months prior to vaccination through the study period.
11. Patients with active tuberculosis.
12. History of Guillain-Barre Syndrome

for healthy arm: Inclusion subjects who are ≥ 50 years old will be administered the zoster vaccine.

Exclusion

1. History of past or present autoimmune diseases
2. History or current use of immunosuppressive drugs
3. History of anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction to gelatin, neomycin, or any other component of the vaccine.
4. .Previous vaccination with any VZV-containing vaccine.
5. Any type of malignancy, ongoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
6. History of underwent solid organ transplantation.
7. Active herpes zoster infection or previous herpes zoster less than 6 months before recruitment.
8. Vaccination with any live vaccine within 4 weeks prevaccination, any inactivated vaccine within 7 days prevaccination, or either during the study period.
9. Blood products transfusion within 5 months prior to vaccination through the study period.