Phase 2 Randomized Bivalent Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prefusion F Maternal Vaccine Trial: Final Safety, Antibody Persistence, and Efficacy
Open Access
- 23 July 2026
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Journal of Infectious Diseases
Abstract
Background: This report summarizes the final results from a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial evaluating the safety, antibody persistence, and potential efficacy of a bivalent respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F (RSVpreF) vaccine in pregnant individuals and their infants. Methods: Maternal participants were randomized from 24 to 36 weeks’ gestation to receive RSVpreF (120 or 240 µg ± aluminum hydroxide) or placebo. Results: This analysis included 579 pregnant individuals and their 572 infants from 4 countries (Argentina, Chile, South Africa, United States); 462 maternal participants received RSVpreF vaccine. Adverse events in the month following receipt of either RSVpreF vaccination or placebo (maternal) or birth (infant) were mostly anticipated events in pregnancy and the neonatal period. For all RSVpreF groups, combined RSV-A/B 50% neutralizing titers peaked 2 weeks after vaccination. At delivery, geometric mean titer ratios between RSVpreF and placebo recipients' infants were 10.9 to 13.6. Transplacental transfer ratios (all groups) were 1.39 to 1.83. Neutralizing geometric mean titers remained higher in infants whose mothers received RSVpreF vs placebo through their first 6 months of life, with an estimated half-life of 39 to 44 days. In an exploratory analysis, observed efficacy (95% CI) for the combined RSVpreF groups against medically attended and severe medically attended infant RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness through the first 180 days of life was 75% (−11% to 94%) and 83% (−48% to 99%), respectively. Conclusions: RSVpreF had a favorable safety profile and elicited robust neutralizing responses with efficient transplacental transfer. The potential to prevent infant RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness was subsequently confirmed in the pivotal phase 3 efficacy trial. Clinical Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04032093).Keywords
Funding Information
- Pfizer
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