Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another vaccine and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
In four clinical trials, 3,058 individuals aged 10 through 25 years received at least one dose of BEXSERO, 1,436 participants received only BEXSERO, 2,089 received only placebo or a control vaccine, and 1,622 participants received a mixed regimen (placebo or control vaccine and BEXSERO).
In a randomized controlled study1 conducted in U.S. and Poland, 120 participants aged 10 through 25 years received at least one dose of BEXSERO, including 112 participants who received 2 doses of BEXSERO 2 months apart; 97 participants received saline placebo followed by MENVEO [Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y, and W-135) Oligosaccharide Diphtheria CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine]. Across groups, median age was 13 years, males comprised 49%, and 60% were white; 34% were Hispanic, 4% were black, <1% were Asian, and 2% were other.
In a second randomized controlled study2 conducted in Chile, all subjects (N = 1,622) aged 11 through 17 years received at least one dose of BEXSERO. This study included a subset of 810 subjects who received 2 doses of BEXSERO 1 or 2 months apart. A control group of 128 subjects received at least 1 dose of placebo containing aluminum hydroxide. A subgroup of 128 subjects received 2 doses of BEXSERO 6 months apart. In this study, median age was 14 years, males comprised 44%, and 99% were Hispanic.
In a third randomized controlled study3 conducted in the United Kingdom (U.K.), 974 university students aged 18 through 24 years received at least 1 dose of BEXSERO, including 932 subjects who received 2 doses of BEXSERO 1 month apart. Comparator groups received 1 dose of MENVEO followed by 1 dose of placebo containing aluminum hydroxide (n = 956) or 2 doses of IXIARO (Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine, Inactivated, Adsorbed) (n = 947). Across groups, median age was 20 years, males comprised 46%, and 88% were white, 5% were Asian, 2% were black, <1% were Hispanic, and 4% were other.
In an uncontrolled study4 conducted in Canada and Australia, 342 participants aged 11 through 17 years received at least 1 dose of BEXSERO, including 338 participants who received 2 doses of BEXSERO 1 month apart. The median age was 13 years, males comprised 55%, and 80% were white, 10% were Asian, 4% were Native American/Alaskan, and 4% were other.
Local and systemic reactogenicity data were solicited from all participants in the studies conducted in Chile, U.S./Poland, Canada/Australia, and in a subset of participants in the U.K. study. Reports of unsolicited adverse events occurring within the first 7 days after each vaccination were collected in all studies. In the U.S./Poland study, reports of unsolicited adverse events were collected up to one month after the second vaccination.
Reports of all serious adverse events, medically attended adverse events, and adverse events leading to premature withdrawal were collected throughout the study period for the studies conducted in Chile (12 months), U.K. (12 months), U.S./Poland (8 months), and Canada/Australia (2 months).
Solicited Adverse Reactions
The reported rates of local and systemic reactions among participants aged 10 through 25 years following each dose of BEXSERO administered 2 months apart or control in the U.S./Polish study1 are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Percentage of U.S. and Polish Participants Aged 10 through 25 Years Reporting Solicited Local and Systemic Adverse Reactions within 7 Days after BEXSERO or Control, by Dose Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT01272180. a Erythema, and induration: Any (≥ 1 mm). Pain and systemic reactions: mild (transient with no limitation in normal daily activity); moderate (some limitation in normal daily activity); severe (unable to perform normal daily activity). b Administered 2 months after Dose 1. |
Solicited Reactiona | Dose 1 | Dose 2b |
BEXSERO | Placebo (Saline) | BEXSERO | MENVEO |
n = 110-114 | n = 94-96
| n = 107-109 | n = 90-92 |
Local Adverse Reactions |
Pain | Any | 90 | 27 | 83 | 43 |
Mild | 27 | 20 | 18 | 26 |
Moderate | 44 | 5 | 37 | 9 |
Severe | 20 | 2 | 29 | 8 |
Erythema | Any | 50 | 13 | 45 | 26 |
1-25 mm | 41 | 11 | 36 | 13 |
>25-50 mm | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
>50-100 mm | 3 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
>100 mm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Induration | Any | 32 | 10 | 28 | 23 |
1-25 mm | 24 | 9 | 22 | 16 |
>25-50 mm | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
> 50-100 mm | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
> 100 mm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Systemic Adverse Reactions |
Fatigue | Any | 37 | 22 | 35 | 20 |
Mild | 19 | 17 | 18 | 11 |
Moderate | 14 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
Severe | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
Nausea | Any | 19 | 4 | 18 | 4 |
Mild | 12 | 3 | 10 | 3 |
Moderate | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
Severe | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Myalgia | Any | 49 | 26 | 48 | 25 |
Mild | 21 | 20 | 16 | 14 |
Moderate | 16 | 5 | 19 | 7 |
Severe | 12 | 1 | 13 | 4 |
Arthralgia | Any | 13 | 4 | 16 | 4 |
Mild | 9 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
Moderate | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
Severe | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Headache | Any | 33 | 20 | 34 | 23 |
Mild | 19 | 15 | 21 | 8 |
Moderate | 9 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
Severe | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
Fever | ≥38°C | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
38.0-38.9°C | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
39.0-39.9°C | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
≥40°C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Solicited adverse reaction rates were similar among participants aged 11 through 24 years who received BEXSERO in the other 3 clinical studies,2,3,4 except for severe myalgia which was reported by 3% to 7% of subjects. Severe pain was reported by 8% of university students in the U.K.3