1. Name Of The Medicinal Product
Synflorix
Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (adsorbed)
2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition
1 dose (0.5 ml) contains:
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 11,2
|
1 microgram
|
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 41,2
|
3 micrograms
|
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 51,2
|
1 microgram
|
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 6B1,2
|
1 microgram
|
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 7F1,2
|
1 microgram
|
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 9V1,2
|
1 microgram
|
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 141,2
|
1 microgram
|
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 18C1,3
|
3 micrograms
|
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 19F1,4
|
3 micrograms
|
Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 23F1,2
|
1 microgram
|
1 adsorbed on aluminium phosphate
|
0.5 milligram Al3+ |
2 conjugated to protein D (derived from non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae) carrier protein
|
9-16 micrograms
|
3 conjugated to tetanus toxoid carrier protein
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5-10 micrograms
|
4 conjugated to diphtheria toxoid carrier protein
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3-6 micrograms
|
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3. Pharmaceutical Form
Suspension for injection (injection).
The vaccine is a turbid white suspension.
4. Clinical Particulars
4.1 Therapeutic Indications
Active immunisation against invasive disease and acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in infants and children from 6 weeks up to 5 years of age. See sections 4.4 and 5.1 for information on protection against specific pneumococcal serotypes.
The use of Synflorix should be determined on the basis of official recommendations taking into consideration the impact of invasive disease in different age groups as well as the variability of serotype epidemiology in different geographical areas.
4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration
Posology
The immunisation schedules for Synflorix should be based on official recommendations.
Infants from 6 weeks to 6 months of age
Three-dose primary series
The recommended immunisation series to ensure optimal protection consists of four doses, each of 0.5 ml. The primary infant series consists of three doses with the first dose usually given at 2 months of age and with an interval of at least 1 month between doses. The first dose may be given as early as six weeks of age. A booster dose is recommended at least 6 months after the last priming dose and preferably between 12 and 15 months of age. (see sections 4.4 and 5.1)
Two-dose primary series
Alternatively, when Synflorix is given as part of a routine infant immunisation programme, a series consisting of three doses, each of 0.5 ml may be given. The first dose may be administered from the age of 2 months, with a second dose 2 months later. A booster dose is recommended at least 6 months after the last primary dose (see section 5.1).
Infants born between 27-36 weeks gestation
In preterm infants born after at least 27 weeks of gestational age, the recommended immunisation series consists of four doses, each of 0.5ml. The primary infant series consists of three doses with the first dose given at 2 months of age and with an interval of at least 1 month between doses. A booster dose is recommended at least 6 months after the last primary dose (see sections 4.4 and 5.1).
Previously unvaccinated older infants and children
- infants aged 7-11 months: The vaccination schedule consists of two doses of 0.5 ml with an interval of at least 1 month between doses. A third dose is recommended in the second year of life with an interval of at least 2 months between doses.
- children aged 12-23 months: The vaccination schedule consists of two doses of 0.5 ml with an interval of at least 2 months between doses. The need for a booster dose after this immunisation schedule has not been established. (see section 4.4)
- children aged 2– 5 years: The vaccination schedule consists of two doses of 0.5 ml with an interval of at least 2 months between doses.
It is recommended that subjects who receive a first dose of Synflorix complete the full vaccination course with Synflorix.
Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of Synflorix in children over 5 years of age have not been established.
Method of administration
The vaccine should be given by intramuscular injection. The preferred sites are anterolateral aspect of the thigh in infants or the deltoid muscle of the upper arm in young children.
4.3 Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1, or to any of the carrier proteins.
As with other vaccines, the administration of Synflorix should be postponed in subjects suffering from acute severe febrile illness. However, the presence of a minor infection, such as a cold, should not result in the deferral of vaccination.
4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use
As with all injectable vaccines, appropriate medical treatment and supervision should always be readily available in case of a rare anaphylactic reaction following the administration of the vaccine.
The potential risk of apnoea and the need for respiratory monitoring for 48-72h should be considered when administering the primary immunisation series to very premature infants (born
Synflorix should under no circumstances be administered intravascularly or intradermally. No data are available on subcutaneous administration of Synflorix.
As for other vaccines administered intramuscularly, Synflorix should be given with caution to individuals with thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder since bleeding may occur following an intramuscular administration to these subjects.
Official recommendations for the immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae type b should also be followed.
There is insufficient evidence that Synflorix provides protection against pneumococcal serotypes not contained in the vaccine or against non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. Synflorix does not provide protection against other micro-organisms.
As with any vaccine, Synflorix may not protect all vaccinated individuals against invasive pneumococcal disease or otitis media caused by the serotypes in the vaccine. Protection against otitis media caused by pneumococcal serotypes in the vaccine is expected to be substantially lower than protection against invasive disease. In addition, as otitis media is caused by many micro-organisms other than the Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes represented in the vaccine, the overall protection against otitis media is expected to be limited (see section 5.1)
In clinical trials Synflorix elicited an immune response to all ten serotypes included in the vaccine, but the magnitude of the responses varied between serotypes. The functional immune response to serotypes 1 and 5 was lower in magnitude than the response against all other vaccine serotypes. It is not known whether this lower functional immune response against serotypes 1 and 5 will result in lower protective efficacy against invasive disease or otitis media caused by these serotypes (see section 5.1).
Synflorix is indicated for use in children aged from 6 weeks up to 5 years. Children should receive the dose regimen of Synflorix that is appropriate to their age at the time of commencing the vaccination series (see section 4.2). Safety and immunogenicity data are not yet available in children above 5 years of age.
Children with impaired immune responsiveness, whether due to the use of immunosuppressive therapy, a genetic defect, HIV infection, or other causes, may have reduced antibody response to vaccination.
Safety and immunogenicity data in children with increased risk for pneumococcal infections (e.g. sickle cell disease, congenital and acquired splenic dysfunction, HIV-infected, malignancy, nephrotic syndrome) are not yet available for Synflorix. Vaccination in high-risk groups should be considered on an individual basis (see section 4.2).
The immune response elicited after two doses of Synflorix in children 12-23 months of age is comparable to the response elicited after three doses in infants (see section 5.1). The immune response to a booster dose after two doses in children aged 12-23 months has not been evaluated, but a booster dose may be needed to ensure optimal individual protection.
However, a 2-dose schedule in children aged 12-23 months with high risk of pneumococcal disease (such as children with sickle-cell disease, asplenia, HIV infection, chronic illness or who are immunocompromised) may not be sufficient to provide optimal protection. In these children, a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine should be given
Prophylactic administration of antipyretics before or immediately after vaccine administration can reduce the incidence and intensity of post-vaccination febrile reactions. However, data suggest that the prophylactic use of paracetamol might reduce the immune response to Synflorix. The clinical relevance of this observation, as well as the impact of antipyretics other than paracetamol on the immune response to Synflorix remains unknown.
The use of prophylactic antipyretic medicinal products is recommended:
- for all children receiving Synflorix simultaneously with vaccines containing whole cell pertussis because of higher rate of febrile reactions (see section 4.8).
- for children with seizure disorders or with a prior history of febrile seizures.
Antipyretic treatment should be initiated according to local treatment guidelines.
4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction
Use with other vaccines
Synflorix can be given concomitantly with any of the following monovalent or combination vaccines [including DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib and DTPw-HBV/Hib]: diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine (DTPa), hepatitis B vaccine (HBV), inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib), diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis vaccine (DTPw), measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR), varicella vaccine (V), meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine (CRM197 and TT conjugates), oral polio vaccine (OPV) and oral rotavirus vaccine. Different injectable vaccines should always be given at different injection sites.
Clinical studies demonstrated that the immune responses and the safety profiles of the co-administered vaccines were unaffected, with the exception of the inactivated poliovirus type 2 response, for which inconsistent results were observed across studies (seroprotection ranging from 78% to 100%). The clinical relevance of this observation is not known. No negative interference was observed with meningococcal conjugate vaccines irrespective of the carrier protein (CRM197 and TT conjugates). Enhancement of antibody response to Hib-TT conjugate, diphtheria and tetanus antigens was observed.
Use with systemic immunosuppressive medicinal products
As with other vaccines, it may be expected that in patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment an adequate response may not be elicited.
Use with prophylactic administration of antipyretics
See section 4.4.
4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation
Synflorix is not intended for use in adults. Human data on the use during pregnancy or lactation and animal reproduction studies are not available.
4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines
Not relevant.
4.8 Undesirable Effects
Summary of safety profile
Clinical trials involved the administration of 12,879 doses of Synflorix to 4,595 healthy children and 137 preterm infants as primary vaccination. Furthermore, 3,870 children and 116 preterm infants received a booster dose of Synflorix in the second year of life.
Safety was also assessed in 212 previously unvaccinated children from 2 to 5 years old of which 62 subjects received 2 doses of Synflorix.
In all trials, Synflorix was administered concurrently with the recommended childhood vaccines.
In infants, the most common adverse reactions observed after primary vaccination were redness at the injection site and irritability which occurred after 38.3% and 52.3% of all doses respectively. Following booster vaccination, these adverse reactions occurred at 52.6% and 55.4% respectively. The majority of these reactions were of mild to moderate severity and were not long lasting.
No increase in the incidence or severity of the adverse reactions was seen with subsequent doses of the primary vaccination series.
Reactogenicity was similar in infants < 12 months of age and in children > 12 months of age except for injection site pain for which the incidence increased with increasing age: pain was reported by more than 31% of the infants < 12 months of age and by more than 60% of the children > 12 months of age.
Reactogenicity was higher in children receiving whole cell pertussis vaccines concomitantly. In a clinical study children received either Synflorix (N=603) or 7-valent Prevenar (N=203) concomitantly with a DTPw containing vaccine. After the primary vaccination course, fever
In comparative clinical studies, the incidence of local and general adverse events reported within 4 days after each vaccination dose was within the same range as after vaccination with 7-valent Prevenar.
List of adverse reactions
Adverse reactions (for all age groups) considered as being at least possibly related to vaccination have been categorised by frequency.
Frequencies are reported as:
Very common:
|
(
|
Common:
|
(
|
Uncommon:
|
(
|
Rare:
|
(
|
Clinical trial data
Immune system disorders
Rare: allergic reactions (such as allergic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, eczema)
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Very common: appetite lost
Psychiatric disorders
Very common: irritability
Uncommon: crying abnormal
Nervous system disorders
Very common: drowsiness
Rare: febrile and non-febrile convulsions
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Uncommon: apnoea in very premature infants (
Gastrointestinal disorders
Uncommon: diarrhoea, vomiting
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Rare: rash, urticaria
General disorders and administration site conditions
Very common: pain, redness, swelling at the injection site, fever
Common: injection site induration, fever >39°C rectally (age<2 years), fever
Uncommon: injection site haematoma, haemorrhage and nodule, fever >40°C rectally* (age<2 years), fever >39°C (age 2 to 5 years)
*reported following booster vaccination of primary series
Post-marketing data
Nervous system disorders:
Rare: hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode
4.9 Overdose
No case of overdose has been reported.
5. Pharmacological Properties
5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: pneumococcal vaccines, ATC code: J07AL52
Epidemiological data
The 10 pneumococcal serotypes included in this vaccine represent the major disease-causing serotypes in Europe covering approximately 56% to 90% of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children <5 years of age. In this age group, serotypes 1, 5 and 7F account for 3.3% to 24.1% of IPD depending on the country and time period studied.
Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common childhood disease with different aetiologies. Bacteria can be responsible for 60-70% of clinical episodes of AOM. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Non-Typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are the most common causes of bacterial AOM worldwide.
1. Invasive pneumococcal disease (which includes sepsis, meningitis, bacteraemic pneumonia and bacteraemia)
The protective efficacy of Synflorix against IPD has not been studied. As recommended by WHO, the assessment of potential efficacy against IPD has been based on a comparison of immune responses to the seven serotypes shared between Synflorix and another pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for which protective efficacy was evaluated previously (i.e. 7-valent Prevenar). Immune responses to the extra three serotypes in Synflorix have also been measured.
In a head-to-head comparative trial with 7-valent Prevenar, non inferiority of the immune response to Synflorix measured by ELISA was demonstrated for all serotypes, except for 6B and 23F (upper limit of the 96.5% CI around the difference between groups >10%) (Table 1). For serotypes 6B and 23F, respectively, 65.9% and 81.4% of infants vaccinated at 2, 3 and 4 months reached the antibody threshold (i.e. 0.20 µg/ml) one month after the third dose of Synflorix versus 79.0% and 94.1% respectively, after three doses of 7-valent Prevenar. The clinical relevance of these differences is not known.
The percentage of vaccinees reaching the threshold for the three additional serotypes in Synflorix (1, 5 and 7F) was respectively 97.3%, 99.0% and 99.5% and was at least as good as the aggregate 7-valent Prevenar response against the 7 common serotypes (95.8%).
Table 1: Comparative analysis between 7-valent Prevenar and Synflorix in percentage of subjects with antibody concentrations > 0.20 µg/ml one month post-dose 3
Antibody
|
SYNFLORIX
|
7-valent Prevenar
|
Difference in %
|
|
|
|
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
%
|
96.5%CI
|
|
|
Anti-4
|
1106
|
97.1
|
373
|
100
|
2.89
|
1.71
|
4.16
|
Anti-6B
|
1100
|
65.9
|
372
|
79.0
|
13.12
|
7.53
|
18.28
|
Anti-9V
|
1103
|
98.1
|
374
|
99.5
|
1.37
|
-0.28
|
2.56
|
Anti-14
|
1100
|
99.5
|
374
|
99.5
|
-0.08
|
-1.66
|
0.71
|
Anti-18C
|
1102
|
96.0
|
374
|
98.9
|
2.92
|
0.88
|
4.57
|
Anti-19F
|
1104
|
95.4
|
375
|
99.2
|
3.83
|
1.87
|
5.50
|
Anti-23F
|
1102
|
81.4
|
374
|
94.1
|
12.72
|
8.89
|
16.13
|
Post-primary antibody geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) elicited by Synflorix against the seven serotypes in common were lower than those elicited by 7-valent Prevenar. Pre-booster GMCs (8 to 12 months after the last primary dose) were generally similar for the two vaccines. After the booster dose the GMCs elicited by Synflorix were lower for most serotypes in common with 7-valent Prevenar.
In the same study, Synflorix was shown to elicit functional antibodies to all vaccine serotypes. For each of the seven serotypes in common, 87.7% to 100% of Synflorix vaccinees and 92.1% to 100% of 7-valent Prevenar vaccinees reached an OPA titre
For serotypes 1, 5 and 7F, the percentages of Synflorix vaccinees reaching an OPA titre
The administration of a fourth dose (booster dose) in the second year of life elicited an anamnestic antibody response as measured by ELISA and OPA for the 10 serotypes included in the vaccine demonstrating the induction of immune memory after the three-dose primary course.
2. Acute Otitis Media (AOM)
In a large randomised double-blind Pneumococcal Otitis Media Efficacy Trial (POET) conducted in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia, 4,968 infants received an 11-valent investigational vaccine (11Pn-PD) containing the 10 serotypes of Synflorix (along with serotype 3 for which efficacy was not demonstrated) or a control vaccine (hepatitis A vaccine) according to a 3, 4, 5 and 12-15 months vaccination schedule.
Efficacy of the 11 Pn-PD vaccine against the first occurrence of vaccine-serotype AOM episode was 52.6% (95% CI: 35.0;65.5). Serotype specific efficacy against the first AOM episode was demonstrated for serotypes 6B (86.5%, 95%CI: 54.9;96.0), 14 (94.8%, 95% CI: 61.0;99.3), 19F (43.3%, 95% CI:6.3;65.4) and 23F (70.8%, 95% CI: 20.8;89.2). For other vaccine serotypes, the number of AOM cases was too limited to allow any efficacy conclusion to be drawn. Efficacy against any AOM episode due to any pneumococcal serotype was 51.5% (95% CI: 36.8;62.9). No increase in the incidence of AOM due to other bacterial pathogens or non-vaccine serotypes was observed in this study. The estimated vaccine efficacy against any clinical episodes of otitis media regardless of aetiology was 33.6% (95% CI: 20.8; 44.3).
Based on immunological bridging of the functional vaccine response (OPA) of Synflorix with the 11-valent formulation used within POET, it is expected that Synflorix provides similar protective efficacy against pneumococcal AOM.
3. Additional immunogenicity data
Infants from 6 weeks to 6 months of age
3-dose primary schedule
In total eight studies, conducted in various countries across Europe, in Chile and in the Philippines, have evaluated the immunogenicity of Synflorix after a three-dose primary series (N=3,089) according to different vaccination schedules (6-10-14 weeks, 2-3-4, 3-4-5 or 2-4-6 months of age). A fourth (booster) dose was given in six clinical studies to 1,976 subjects. In general, comparable vaccine responses were observed for the different schedules, although somewhat higher immune responses were noted for the 2-4-6 month schedule.
2-dose primary schedule
The immunogenicity of Synflorix following a 2-dose primary vaccination schedule in subjects less than 6 months of age was evaluated in two clinical studies.
In the first study, in a post-hoc analysis, the immunogenicity two months after the second dose of Synflorix was compared with 7-valent Prevenar and the percentages of subjects with ELISA antibody concentration
In the second study, the immunogenicity after two or three doses of Synflorix was compared. Although there was no significant difference between the two groups in the percentages of subjects with antibody concentration
Table 2: Percentage of 2-dose primed subjects with antibody concentrations
Antibody
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post-primary
|
Post-booster
|
|
|
|
|
|
%
|
95% CI
|
%
|
95%CI
|
|
|
|
Anti-1
|
97.4
|
93.4
|
99.3
|
99.4
|
96.5
|
100
|
Anti-4
|
98.0
|
94.4
|
99.6
|
100
|
97.6
|
100
|
Anti-5
|
96.1
|
91.6
|
98.5
|
100
|
97.6
|
100
|
Anti-6B
|
55.7
|
47.3
|
63.8
|
88.5
|
82.4
|
93.0
|
Anti-7F
|
96.7
|
92.5
|
98.9
|
100
|
97.7
|
100
|
Anti-9V
|
93.4
|
88.2
|
96.8
|
99.4
|
96.5
|
100
|
Anti-14
|
96.1
|
91.6
|
98.5
|
99.4
|
96.5
|
100
|
Anti-18C
|
96.1
|
91.6
|
98.5
|
100
|
97.7
|
100
|
Anti-19F
|
92.8
|
87.4
|
96.3
|
96.2
|
91.8
|
98.6
|
Anti-23F
|
69.3
|
61.3
|
76.5
|
96.1
|
91.7
|
98.6
|
Table 3: Percentage of 3-dose primed subjects with antibody concentrations
Antibody
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post-primary
|
Post-booster
|
|
|
|
|
|
%
|
95% CI
|
%
|
95%CI
|
|
|
|
Anti-1
|
98.7
|
95.3
|
99.8
|
100
|
97.5
|
100
|
Anti-4
|
99.3
|
96.4
|
100
|
100
|
97.5
|
100
|
Anti-5
|
100
|
97.6
|
100
|
100
|
97.5
|
100
|
Anti-6B
|
63.1
|
54.8
|
70.8
|
96.6
|
92.2
|
98.9
|
Anti-7F
|
99.3
|
96.4
|
100
|
100
|
97.5
|
100
|
Anti-9V
|
99.3
|
96.4
|
100
|
100
|
97.5
|
100
|
Anti-14
|
100
|
97.6
|
100
|
98.6
|
95.2
|
99.8
|
Anti-18C
|
99.3
|
96.4
|
100
|
99.3
|
96.3
|
100
|
Anti-19F
|
96.1
|
91.6
|
98.5
|
98.0
|
94.2
|
99.6
|
Anti-23F
|
77.6
|
70.2
|
84.0
|
95.9
|
91.3
|
98.5
|
In the follow-up of the second study, the persistence of antibodies at 36-46 months of age was demonstrated in subjects that had received a 2-dose primary series followed by a booster dose with at least 83.7% of subjects remaining seropositive for vaccine serotypes. In subjects that had received a 3-dose primary series followed by a booster dose, at least 96.5% of the subjects remained seropositive for vaccine serotypes. A single dose of Synflorix, administered during the 4th year of life, as a challenge dose, elicited similar ELISA antibody GMCs when measured 7-10 days after challenge in 2-dose primed subjects and 3-dose primed subjects. These levels were higher than those seen after challenge of unprimed subjects. The fold increase in ELISA antibody GMCs and OPA GMTs, pre to post vaccination, was also similar in 2-dose primed subjects to that in 3-dose primed subjects. These results are indicative of immunological memory in primed subjects for all vaccine serotypes.
The clinical consequences of the lower post-primary and post-booster immune responses observed after the two-dose primary schedule are not known.
Previously unvaccinated older infants and children
The immune responses in previously unvaccinated older children were evaluated in two clinical studies.
