Clinical Pharmacology for HyperRAB
Mechanism Of Action
HYPERRAB provides immediate, passive, rabies virus neutralizing antibody coverage until the previously unvaccinated patient responds to rabies vaccine by actively producing antibodies.1
Pharmacodynamics
The usefulness of prophylactic rabies antibody in preventing rabies in humans when administered immediately after exposure was dramatically demonstrated in a group of persons bitten by a rabid wolf in Iran.7,8 Similarly, beneficial results were later reported from the U.S.S.R.9 Studies coordinated by WHO (World Health Organization) helped determine the optimal conditions under which antirabies serum of equine origin and rabies vaccine can be used in man.10-13 These studies showed that antirabies serum can interfere to a variable extent with the active immunity induced by the vaccine, but could be minimized by booster doses of vaccine after the end of the usual dosage series.
Preparation of rabies immune globulin of human origin with adequate potency was reported by Cabasso et al.14 In carefully controlled clinical studies, this globulin was used in conjunction with rabies vaccine of duck-embryo origin (DEV).14,15 These studies determined that a human globulin dose of 20 IU/kg of rabies antibody, given simultaneously with the first DEV dose, resulted in amply detectable levels of passive rabies antibody 24 hours after injection in all recipients. The injections produced minimal, if any, interference with the subject’s endogenous antibody response to DEV.
Subsequently, human diploid cell rabies vaccines (HDCV) prepared from tissue culture fluids containing rabies virus have received substantial clinical evaluation in Europe and the United States.14-22 In a study in adult volunteers, the administration of Rabies Immune Globulin (Human) did not interfere with antibody formation induced by HDCV when given in a dose of 20 IU per kilogram body weight simultaneously with the first dose of vaccine.21
Pharmacokinetics
In a clinical study of 12 healthy human subjects receiving a 20 IU/kg intramuscular dose of HYPERRAB detectable passive rabies neutralizing antibody was present by 24 hours and persisted through the 21 day follow-up evaluation period. Figure 1 shows the mean levels of rabies virus antibodies in IU/mL across the 21 day evaluation period and indicates that the titer remains stable during this period. This level of passive rabies neutralizing antibody is similar to that reported in the literature for administration of human rabies immune globulin, and is clinically important because it provides interim protection until the host immune response to rabies vaccine produces definitive protective titers of neutralizing rabies antibody (therefore the rabies vaccine series is also essential).23-24
Figure 1: Mean (Standard Deviation) Rabies Virus Neutralizing Antibody Levels (IU/mL) versus Time following a Single 20 IU/kg Dose of HYPERRAB® (300 IU/mL) by Intramuscular Injection
The previous formulation, HYPERRAB® S/D [rabies immune globulin (human)], was studied in 8 healthy subjects over 21 days. As with the new formulation, rabies neutralizing antibody was present by 24 hours and persisted through the 21 day follow up period (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Reciprocal of Anti-Rabies Virus Neutralizing Antibody Titer Following a Single 20 IU/kg Dose of HYPERRAB® (300 IU/mL; RIG-C) or HYPERRAB® S/D (150 IU/mL; RIG-S/D) Product (mean [standard deviation])
Clinical Studies
HYPERRAB was administered to a total of 20 healthy adult subjects in two clinical trials. [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY] A single intramuscular dose of 20 IU/kg HYPERRAB (12 subjects) or HYPERRAB S/D (8 subjects) was administered and rabies neutralizing antibody titers were monitored in serum for 21 days. Administration of both HYPERRAB formulations resulted in detectable titers of neutralizing antibodies to the rabies virus that persisted throughout the 21 day study period (Figure 2).
REFERENCES
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human rabies prevention — United States, 2008: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR. 2008;57(RR03):1-26, 28.
7. Baltazard M, Bahmanyar M, Ghodssi M, et al. Essai pratique du sérum antirabique chez les mordus par loups enragés. [Practical test of anti-rabies serum in bites by rabid wolves]. Bull WHO. 1955;13:747-72.
8. Habel K, Koprowski H. Laboratory data supporting the clinical trial of antirabies serum in persons bitten by a rabid wolf. Bull WHO. 1955;13:773-9.
9. Selimov M, Boltucij L, Semenova E, et al. [The use of antirabies gamma globulin in subjects severely bitten by rabid wolves or other animals.] J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol (Praha). 1959;3:168-80.
10. Atanasiu P, Bahmanyar M, Baltazard M, et al. Rabies neutralizing antibody response to different schedules of serum and vaccine inoculations in non-exposed persons. Bull WHO. 1956;14:593-611.
11. Atanasiu P, Bahmanyar M, Baltazard M, et al. Rabies neutralizing antibody response to different schedules of serum and vaccine inoculations in non-exposed persons: Part II. Bull WHO. 1957;17:911-32.
12. Atanasiu P, Cannon DA, Dean DJ, et al. Rabies neutralizing antibody response to different schedules of serum and vaccine inoculations in non-exposed persons: Part 3. Bull WHO. 1961;25:103-14.
13. Atanasiu P, Dean DJ, Habel K, et al. Rabies neutralizing antibody response to different schedules of serum and vaccine inoculations in non-exposed persons: Part 4. Bull WHO. 1967;36:361-5.
14. Cabasso VJ, Loofbourow JC, Roby RE, et al. Rabies immune globulin of human origin: preparation and dosage determination in non-exposed volunteer subjects. Bull WHO. 1971;45:303-15.
15. Loofbourow JC, Cabasso VJ, Roby RE, et al. Rabies immune globin (human): clinical trials and dose determination. JAMA. 1971;217(13):1825-31.
16. Plotkin SA. New rabies vaccine halts disease — without severe reactions. Mod Med. 1977;45(20):45-8.
17. Plotkin SA, Wiktor TJ, Koprowski H, et al. Immunization schedules for the new human diploid cell vaccine against rabies. Am J Epidemiol. 1976;103(1):75-80.
18. Hafkin B, Hattwick MA, Smith JS, et al. A comparison of a WI-38 vaccine and duck embryo vaccine for preexposure rabies prophylaxis. Am J Epidemiol. 1978;107(5):439-43.
19. Kuwert EK, Marcus I, Höher PG. Neutralizing and complement-fixing antibody responses in pre- and post-exposure vaccinees to a rabies vaccine produced in human diploid cells. J Biol Stand. 1976;4(4):249-62.
20. Grandien M. Evaluation of tests for rabies antibody and analysis of serum responses after administration of three different types of rabies vaccines. J Clin Microbiol. 1977;5(3):263-7.
21. Kuwert EK, Marcus I, Werner J, et al. Postexpositionelle Schutzimpfung des Menschen gegen Tollwut mit einer neu-entwickelten Gewebekulturvakzine (HDCS-Impfstoff). [Post exposure use of human diploid cell culture rabies vaccine (author’s transl)]. Zentralbl Bakteriol [A]. 1977;239(4):437-58.
22. Bahmanyar M, Fayaz A, Nour-Salehi S, et al. Successful protection of humans exposed to rabies infection: postexposure treatment with the new human diploid cell rabies vaccine and antirabies serum. JAMA. 1976;236(24):2751-4.
23. Helmick CG, Johnstone C, Sumner J, et al. A clinical study of Merieux human rabies immune globulin. J Biol Stand. 1982;10:357-67.
24. Lang J, Gravenstein S, Briggs D, et al. Evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity of a new, heat-treated human rabies immune globulin using a sham, post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies. Biologicals. 1998;26:7-15.