Long term immunity following a booster dose of the inactivated Japanese Encephalitis vaccine IXIARO®, IC51.

INTRODUCTION

IXIARO (IC51), a recently approved inactivated Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, is immunogenic and safe in a 0/28 days primary immunization schedule. Neutralizing antibody titers decline with time and booster doses are likely needed to enhance persistence of immunity.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of a booster dose on neutralizing JE antibody titers for up to 12 months after boostering.

METHODS

In this phase III trial, 198 subjects, who had received primary immunization in a preceding randomized trial, were boosted with IXIARO 15 months after the primary immunization. Neutralizing antibody titers were assessed by plaque-reduction neutralisation test, PRNT.

RESULTS

Prior to the booster dose, 69.2% (137/198) of subjects had PRNT50 titers ≥ 1:10. One month after the booster, the rate of subjects with PRNT50 ≥ 1:10 (recognized as a protective titer) was 100%. This rate remained high at 98.5% at 6 and 12 months; GMTs were 22.5 before the booster and 900, 487 and 361 at 1, 6 and 12 months after the booster, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A booster dose of IXIARO at 15 months after primary immunization was highly immunogenic with GMTs >5-fold higher than those seen immediately after primary immunization, and remained at high levels for at least 12 months after the booster.