Evaluation of a Vaccine for Reducing Ear and Lung Infections in Children

Time to occurrence of any episode of AOM is expressed in terms of rate: Person-year rate = number of episodes (n)/sum of follow-up expressed in years (T[year)]). A healthcare-provider-diagnosed clinical AOM case was defined as an AOM event diagnosed by a treating physician or equivalent licensed medical professional with or without clinical symptoms documented in the routine medical record.

Time to occurrence of any episode of AOM is expressed in terms of rate: Person-year rate = number of episodes (n)/sum of follow-up expressed in years (T[year)]). Definition of clinical AOM diagnosed and verified against modified AAP criteria required a history of acute disease (i.e. AAP criterion 1) together with abnormal tympanic membrane (i.e. one of the AAP criteria 2 or 3a), as per the judgment of a treating physician or equivalent licensed medical professional: 1. A history of acute (recent, usually abrupt) onset of signs and symptoms of middle-ear inflammation and middle-ear effusion (MEE).AND 2. The presence of MEE that is indicated by any of the following: a) Bulging of tympanic membrane, b) Limited or absent mobility of tympanic membrane, c) Air-fluid level behind tympanic membrane, d) Otorrhea OR 3. Signs or symptoms of middle-ear inflammation as indicated by: a) Distinct erythema of tympanic membrane.

Recurrent AOM was defined as at least 3 AOM episodes diagnosed by a physician or equivalent licensed medical professional and occurring within 6 months or at least 4 episodes within one year, regardless of the etiology.

Time to occurrence of any episode of AOM is expressed in terms of rate: Person-year rate = number of episodes (n)/sum of follow-up expressed in years (T[year)]). Draining AOM was defined as AOM with otorrhea or with spontaneously perforated tympanic membrane. In this case, middle ear fluid (MEF) was to be swabbed with no tympanocentesis needed and tested for the presence of S. pneumoniae and other pathogens as part of the routine clinical practice. Draining pneumococcal AOM were defined as draining AOM cases with S. pneumoniae identified in MEF.

Time to occurrence of any episode of AOM is expressed in terms of rate: Person-year rate = number of episodes (n)/sum of follow-up expressed in years (T[year)]). Draining AOM was defined as AOM with otorrhea or with spontaneously perforated tympanic membrane. In this case, middle ear fluid (MEF) was to be swabbed with no tympanocentesis needed and tested for the presence of S. pneumoniae and other pathogens as part of the routine clinical practice. Draining pneumococcal AOM were defined as draining AOM cases with S. pneumoniae identified in MEF.

AOM with temporally related carriage was defined as AOM with nasopharyngeal swab taken within 3 days before or after an AOM episode.

Time to occurrence of any episode of AOM is expressed in terms of rate: Person-year rate = number of episodes (n)/ sum of follow-up expressed in years (T[year)]). ALRI was defined by the presence of tachypnea (respiratory rate >50 amongst children 2 to 12 months of age, and respiratory rate >40 in children over 1 year of age) and at least two of the following signs and symptoms: cough; fever documented at visit or reported within preceding 3 days (Fever was defined as temperature ≥100.4°F (38.0°C) regardless of the route of measurement); increased work of breathing: grunting, nasal flaring, and intercostal and/or subcostal retractions; auscultatory abnormalities: wheezing, crackles, rhonchi, decreased breath sounds.

Time to occurrence of any episode of AOM is expressed in terms of rate: Person-year rate = number of episodes (n)/ sum of follow-up expressed in years (T[year)]). ALRI was defined by the presence of tachypnea (respiratory rate >50 amongst children 2 to 12 months of age, and respiratory rate >40 in children over 1 year of age) and at least two of the following signs and symptoms: cough; fever documented at visit or reported within preceding 3 days (Fever is defined as temperature ≥100.4°F (38.0°C) regardless of the route of measurement); increased work of breathing: grunting, nasal flaring, and intercostal and/or subcostal retractions; auscultatory abnormalities: wheezing, crackles, rhonchi, decreased breath sounds.

Time to occurrence of any episode of AOM is expressed in terms of rate: Person-year rate = number of episodes (n)/ sum of follow-up expressed in years (T[year)]). A healthcare-provider-diagnosed ALRI with fever case was defined as, but not limited to, chest infection, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, pleural effusion or empyema diagnosed by a treating physician or equivalent licensed medical professional with fever documented at the time of visit or history of fever within 3 days preceding a given episode and with or without other clinical symptoms documented in the routine medical record.

Positive cultures of S. pneumoniae (any and serotype specific) identified in the nasopharynx were analyzed.

Anti-Ply and anti-PhtD antibody concentrations were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) immunoassay and expressed as geometric mean concentrations (GMCs), in ELISA Units per milliliter (EL.U/mL). Cut-off of the assay were concentrations equal to (=) 12 EL.U/mL for anti-Ply antibodies and = 17 EL.U/mL for anti-PhtD antibodies.

Inhibition of Ply hemolysis activity was not evaluated due to assay stability issues.

Seroprotection rate = Anti-PRP antibody concentrations ≥ 0.15 µg/mL.

Antibody concentrations were measured by Electro-chemiluminescence assay (ECL), expressed as geometric mean concentrations (GMCs), in micrograms per milliliter (µg/mL). The cut-off of the assay was a serotype-specific antibody concentration higher than or equal to (≥) LLOQ (Lower Limit of Quantification) expressed in µg/mL: 0.08 for Anti-1; 0.075 for anti-3; 0.061 for Anti-4; 0.198 for Anti-5; 0.111 for Anti-6A and Anti-18C; 0.102 for Anti-6B; 0.063 for Anti-7F; 0.066 for Anti-9V; 0.160 for Anti-14; 0.199 for Anti-19A; 0.163 for Anti-19F; 0.073 for Anti-23F.

No analysis was performed on antibody concentrations against vaccine-related serotype 6C as no specific qualified/validated assay was available.

Titers for opsonophagocytic activity assessed for this outcome measure were those for opsonophagocytic activity against the vaccine pneumococcal serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F (OPA-1, -3, -4, -5, -6A, -6B, -7F, -9V, -14, -18C, -19A, -19F and -23F). The cut-off of the assay was a titer for opsonophagocytic activity higher than or equal to (≥) LLOQ: 8 for OPA-1, OPA-3 and OPA-6B; 33 for OPA-4, and OPA-14; 50 for OPA-5; 151 for OPA-6A; 330 for OPA-7F; 275 for OPA-9V; 11 for OPA-18C; 143 for OPA-19A; 36 for OPA-19F; 101 for OPA-23F.

Titers for opsonophagocytic activity assessed for this outcome measure were those for opsonophagocytic activity against the vaccine-related pneumococcal serotypes 6C (OPA-6C). The cut-off of the assay was a titer for opsonophagocytic activity higher than or equal to (≥) 145.

Assessed local symptoms were pain, redness and swelling. Any = Occurrence of the specified solicited local symptom, regardless of intensity. Grade 3 Pain = Crying when limb was moved/spontaneously painful. Grade 3 Redness/Swelling = Redness/swelling at injection site larger than (>) 30 millimeters (mm). The Immuno /reacto sub-cohort was composed of 200 vaccinated subjects from each study group.

Assessed local symptoms were pain, redness and swelling. Any = Occurrence of the specified solicited local symptom, regardless of intensity. Grade 3 Pain = Crying when limb was moved/spontaneously painful. Grade 3 Redness/Swelling = Redness/swelling at injection site larger than (>) 30 millimeters (mm). The Immuno /reacto sub-cohort was composed of 200 vaccinated subjects from each study group.

Assessed solicited general symptoms were Drowsiness, Irritability/Fussiness (Irr./Fuss.), Loss of appetite (Loss Appet.) and Fever (axillary route - temperature equal or higher than [≥] 38.0 degrees Celsius [°C]),. Any = Occurrence of the specified solicited general symptom, regardless of intensity or relationship to vaccination. Grade 3 Drowsiness = Drowsiness that prevented normal activity. Grade 3 Irr./Fuss. = Crying that could not be comforted/prevented normal activity. Grade 3 Loss of appetite = Subject did not eat at all. Grade 3 Fever = (axillary) temperature higher than (>) 40.0°C. Related = Occurrence of the specified symptom assessed by the investigator as causally related to vaccination. The Immuno /reacto sub-cohort was composed of 200 vaccinated subjects from each study group.

Assessed solicited general symptoms were Drowsiness, Irritability/Fussiness (Irr./Fuss.), Loss of appetite (Loss Appet.) and Fever (axillary route - temperature equal or higher than [≥] 38.0 degrees Celsius [°C]),. Any = Occurrence of the specified solicited general symptom, regardless of intensity or relationship to vaccination. Grade 3 Drowsiness = Drowsiness that prevented normal activity. Grade 3 Irr./Fuss. = Crying that could not be comforted/prevented normal activity. Grade 3 Loss of appetite = Subject did not eat at all. Grade 3 Fever = (axillary) temperature higher than (>) 40.0°C. Related = Occurrence of the specified symptom assessed by the investigator as causally related to vaccination. The Immuno /reacto sub-cohort was composed of 200 vaccinated subjects from each study group.

An unsolicited AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical investigation subject, temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product. An AE can therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease (new or exacerbated) temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product. For the marketed products administered in the study, this also included failure to produce expected benefits (i.e. lack of efficacy), abuse or misuse of the product. Any = Occurrence of an unsolicited AE, regardless of intensity or relationship to vaccination. The Immuno/reacto sub-cohort was composed of 200 vaccinated subjects from each study group.

An unsolicited AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical investigation subject, temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product. An AE can therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease (new or exacerbated) temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product. For the marketed products administered in the study, this also included failure to produce expected benefits (i.e. lack of efficacy), abuse or misuse of the product. Any = Occurrence of an unsolicited AE, regardless of intensity or relationship to vaccination. The Immuno /reacto sub-cohort was composed of 200 vaccinated subjects from each study group.

An SAE was defined as any medical occurrence that resulted in death, was life-threatening, required hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, resulted in disability/incapacity in a subject. AE(s) considered as SAE(s) also included invasive or malignant cancers, intensive treatment in an emergency room or at home for allergic bronchospasm, blood dyscrasias or convulsions that did not result in hospitalization, as per the medical or scientific judgement of the physician. Any = Occurrence of an SAE, regardless of relationship to vaccination.