SAFETY AND IMMUNOGENICITY OF A RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS SUBUNIT VACCINE (PFP-2) IN AMBULATORY ADULTS OVER AGE 60

The safety and immunogenicity of purified fusion protein (PFP-2) respi ratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine was evaluated in a randomized pla cebo-controlled, double-blind study of 64 healthy adults over age 60. Vaccination was well tolerated with no significant acute side-effects. Twenty-nine of 33 vaccinees (87%) showed a greater than or equal to f ourfold rise in serum IgG to the F protein of RSV at 8 weeks post vacc ination. Twenty of 33 vaccine recipients (61%) had a greater than or e qual to fourfold rise in serum neutralizing titer to group A and/or gr oup B RSV. Response to vaccination was inversely correlated with pre-i mmunization serum neutralizing titers. Active surveillance throughout the ensuing winter identified three RSV infections in the placebo grou p and none in the vaccine group. Thus, PFP-2 was found to be safe and immunogenic in healthy older adults. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.