title: A 2-dose regimen of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine with the immune stimulant AS04 compared with the standard 3-dose regimen of Engerix-B in healthy young adults.
abstract: An open-label randomized study was undertaken to compare a 2-dose regimen (Months 0 and 6) of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) vaccine formulated with a novel adjuvant (HBsAg/AS04) with a standard 3-dose regimen (Months 0, 1 and 6) of licensed recombinant HBsAg vaccine in terms of immunogenicity and reactogenicity when administered to healthy subjects aged between 15 and 40 y. At 1 and 6 months after the full vaccination course there was a 100% seroprotection rate (anti-HBs > or = 10 mIU/ml) with the HBsAg/AS04 vaccine, compared with a 99% response rate with the licensed vaccine. The corresponding geometric mean titres were significantly higher for the novel vaccine compared to the standard vaccine: 15,468 and 2,745 mIU/ml at Months 7 and 12 vs. 6,274 and 1,883 mIU/ml, respectively. There was a higher prevalence of local symptoms with the adjuvant vaccine (90% of doses) than with the standard vaccine (48% of doses). However, these symptoms (pain, swelling and redness) were predominantly of mild-to-moderate intensity and resolved rapidly without treatment. A 2-dose regimen of the new HBsAg/AS04 adjuvant vaccine therefore compared favourably to the standard regimen in healthy young adults. It is anticipated that the simplified vaccination schedule may improve compliance and reduce costs.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Levie
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gjorup
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skinhøj
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoffel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D003718:Denmark; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: C075654:Engerix-B; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic