Pivotal Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial of the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of 20-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Adults Aged >= 18 Years

The 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) was safe and well tolerated, with immunogenicity comparable to that of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine. PCV20 is anticipated to expand protection against pneumococcal disease in adults. Background Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have significantly reduced pneumococcal disease, but disease from non-PCV serotypes remains. The safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a 20-valent PCV (PCV20) were evaluated. Methods This pivotal phase 3, randomized, double-blind study enrolled adults into 3 age groups (>= 60, 50-59, and 18-49 years) at US and Swedish sites. Participants were randomized to receive 1 PCV20 or 13-valent PCV (PCV13) dose. After 1 month, participants aged >= 60 years also received 1 dose of saline or 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Safety assessments included local reactions, systemic events, adverse events, serious adverse events, and newly diagnosed chronic medical conditions. Opsonophagocytic activity geometric mean titers 1 month after PCV20 were compared with 13 matched serotypes after PCV13 and 7 additional serotypes after PPSV23 in participants aged >= 60 years; noninferiority was declared if the lower bound of the 2-sided 95% confidence interval for the opsonophagocytic activity geometric mean titer ratio (ratio of PCV20/saline to PCV13/PPSV23 group) was >0.5. PCV20-elicited immune responses in younger participants were also bridged to those in 60-64-year-olds. Results The severity and frequency of prompted local reactions and systemic events were similar after PCV20 or PCV13; no safety concerns were identified. Primary immunogenicity objectives were met, with immune responses after PCV20 noninferior to 13 matched serotypes after PCV13 and to 6 additional PPSV23 serotypes in participants aged >= 60 years; serotype 8 missed the statistical noninferiority criterion. PCV20 induced robust responses to all 20 vaccine serotypes across age groups. Conclusions PCV20 was safe and well tolerated, with immunogenicity comparable to that of PCV13 or PPSV23. PCV20 is anticipated to expand protection against pneumococcal disease in adults.