SIDE EFFECTS
The most common solicited adverse reactions observed in
clinical trials were pain at the injection site (≥83%), myalgia
(≥48%), erythema (≥45%), fatigue (≥35%), headache
(≥33%), induration (≥28%), nausea (≥18%), and arthralgia
(≥13%).
Clinical Trials Experience
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
Solicited Reactiona |
Dose 1 |
Dose 2b |
BEXSERO
n = 110-114 |
Placebo (Saline)
n = 94-96 |
BEXSERO
n = 107-109 |
MENVEO
n = 90-92 |
Local Adverse Reactions |
Pain |
Any Mild Moderate Severe |
90 |
27 |
83 |
43 |
27 |
20 |
18 |
26 |
44 |
5 |
37 |
9 |
20 |
2 |
29 |
8 |
Erythema |
Any 1-25 mm >25-50 mm >50-100 mm >100 mm |
50 |
13 |
45 |
26 |
41 |
11 |
36 |
13 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Induration |
Any 1-25 mm >25-50 mm >50-100 mm >100 mm |
32 |
10 |
28 |
23 |
24 |
9 |
22 |
16 |
7 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
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 |
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 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
Non-serious Adverse Events
In the 3 controlled studies1,2,3 (BEXSERO n =
2,221, control n = 2,204), non-serious unsolicited adverse events that occurred
within 7 days of any dose were reported by 439 (20%) participants receiving
BEXSERO and 197 (9%) control recipients. Unsolicited adverse events that were
reported among at least 2% of participants and were more frequently reported in
participants receiving BEXSERO than in control recipients were injection site
pain, headache, and injection site induration unresolved within 7 days, and
nasopharyngitis.
Serious Adverse Events
Overall, in clinical studies, among 3,058 participants
aged 10 through 25 years who received at least 1 dose of BEXSERO, 66 (2.1%) participants
reported serious adverse events at any time during the study. In the 3
controlled studies1,2,3 (BEXSERO n = 2,716, Control n = 2,078),
serious adverse events within 30 days after any dose were reported in 23 (0.8%)
participants receiving BEXSERO and 10 (0.5%) control recipients.
Additional Pre-licensure Safety Experience
In response to outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal
disease at 2 universities in the U.S., BEXSERO was administered as a 2-dose
series at least 1 month apart. Information on serious adverse events was
collected for a period of 30 days after each dose from 15,351 individuals aged
16 through 65 years who received at least 1 dose. Overall 50 individuals (0.3%)
reported serious adverse events, including one event considered related to
vaccination, a case of anaphylaxis within 30 minutes following vaccination.
Postmarketing Experience
Adverse event reports received for BEXSERO marketed
outside the U.S. are listed below. Because these events are reported
voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to
estimate reliably their frequency, or to establish a causal relationship to
vaccination. This list includes serious events or events which have suspected
causal association to BEXSERO.
General Disorders And Administration Site Conditions
Injection site reactions (including extensive swelling of
the vaccinated limb, blisters at or around the injection site, and injection
site nodule which may persist for more than 1 month).
Immune System Disorders
Allergic reactions (including anaphylactic reactions),
rash, eye swelling.
Nervous System Disorders
Syncope, vasovagal responses to injection.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Sufficient data are not available to establish the safety
and immunogenicity of concomitant administration of BEXSERO with recommended
adolescent vaccines.
REFERENCES
1. NCT01272180 (V102_03).
2. NCT00661713 (V72P10).
3. NCT01214850 (V72_29).
4. NCT01423084 (V72_41).