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Heplisav-B: which risks did reviewers probe?

hepatitis B vaccine (recombinant), adjuvanted · TLR9 (CpG 1018 adjuvant)
Immune & cytokine safety
Serum IL-12p40 rose only 2-fold at ~20x the human CpG 1018 dose; no IL-12p40 or IFN-gamma increase at the 1x human dose
“The 300 mcg 1018 ISS + HBsAg dose (approximately 20 times the human dose) induced only a 2-fold increase in IL-12p40 levels over baseline, and the 15 mcg 1018 ISS + HBsAg dose (a 1 X human dose) did not induce an increase in either IL-12p40 or IFN-g levels after the first or last injection.”
✓ VerifiedFDA toxicology review, p. 40Source ↗
Biodistribution & persistence
Rapid plasma decline; PS-ODN binds plasma proteins (95%) and distributes to kidney (up to 20% of dose), liver and spleen
“According to published data the rapid decline is due to initial low affinity binding to plasma proteins (95%) and to significant distribution to kidney (up to 20 % of the dose), liver, and to a minor extent spleen.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 25Source ↗
Modality-specific risk
Oligonucleotide class effect: CpG 1018 kidney accumulation in rats with non-reversible tubular degeneration and interstitial inflammation
“Most of the observed changes were reversible, except for accumulation of the CpG 1018 in the kidneys in male rats of all groups as well as female rats receiving 2.5 and 12.5 mg/kg/week which led to minimal to moderate tubular degeneration and minimal to moderate chronic interstitial inflammation in a dose dependent manner.”
✓ VerifiedFDA summary basis for approval, p. 15Source ↗
Anti-drug antibodies: animals
Not stated in public reviews
Not reported in the public reviews. Reviewers summarise selectively, so this usually means it wasn't discussed publicly, not that it wasn't studied.
Anti-drug antibodies: patients
Not stated in public reviews
Not reported in the public reviews. Reviewers summarise selectively, so this usually means it wasn't discussed publicly, not that it wasn't studied.

Same question, other oligonucleotides

Amondys 45

casimersen · DMD exon 45 (PMO)
Dose-related complement activation (Bb, C3a) in 12-week monkey; no immune function effects in juvenile rat

Amvuttra

vutrisiran · TTR (siRNA)
No ADA in rats; non-dose-related ADA in 8/32 monkeys without impact; no cytokine stimulation in vitro or in monkeys

Cyfendus

anthrax vaccine adsorbed, adjuvanted · TLR9 (CpG 7909 adjuvant)
Transient neutrophil, monocyte, basophil and inflammatory-marker increases; spleen weight increase and lymphoid hyperplasia

Dawnzera

donidalorsen · Prekallikrein / KLKB1 (ASO)
No cytokine/chemokine or C3 effects; minimal transient complement Bb increase at 30 mg/kg/week; ADAs 12.5-62.5% in monkey without impact

Defitelio

defibrotide · Fragmented DNA oligonucleotides
Mouse 4-week immune function assays (NK activity, anti-SRBC response, macrophage cytotoxicity, lymphocyte proliferation): no clear effect

Exondys 51

eteplirsen · DMD exon 51 (PMO)
No effects on TDAR or immunophenotyping in juvenile rat; lymphoid necrosis in spleen/thymus at high dose in mouse

Givlaari

givosiran · ALAS1 (siRNA)
Low ADA incidence: rat negative, one monkey ADA-positive; no dedicated antigenicity studies

Izervay

avacincaptad pegol · C5 (aptamer)
Main pharmacology-related risk is increased susceptibility to infections (C5 inhibition); no complement activation by the aptamer in monkeys; panuveitis with Lucentis combination

Kynamro

mipomersen · APOB (ASO)
Class proinflammatory effects (MCP-1, IL-1b, CRP); alternative complement activation, C3 depletion in monkeys; no clear ADA

Leqvio

inclisiran · PCSK9 (siRNA)
Delayed/suppressed TDAR (KLH IgM/IgG) in 40-week monkey study, reversible; sporadic low-titre ADA without PD impact

Macugen

pegaptanib · VEGF-165 (aptamer)
No local/systemic immune response or antibody induction; antibody assay of unclear accuracy

Onpattro

patisiran · TTR (siRNA)
Transient complement activation (C3a, Bb) in monkeys, siRNA-independent; ADA to PEG lipid in rats reduced exposure

Oxlumo

lumasiran · HAO1 (siRNA)
Low-titre ADA in 3/36 monkeys, no impact on exposure or tox; no ADA in rats; not immunostimulatory

Qalsody

tofersen · SOD1 (ASO)
CSF inflammation at 35 mg in monkey; ADA not assessed in animal studies (58.4% of patients ADA-positive)

Qfitlia

fitusiran · Antithrombin / SERPINC1 (siRNA)
No ADA in monkeys (0.1-1 mg/kg/week); injection-site hypersensitivity-type skin reactions in rats and monkeys at all doses

Redemplo

plozasiran · APOC3 (siRNA)
Proinflammatory cytokines induced in human whole blood in vitro at high concentrations; none in rat/monkey studies

Rivfloza

nedosiran · LDHA (siRNA)
No cytokine or complement activation in 39-week monkey study; nonclinical ADA not assessed

Rytelo

imetelstat · Telomerase (oligo)
Alternative complement activation (Bb, C5a); no immunotoxicity; no ADA assessment in animals

Spinraza

nusinersen · SMN2 (ASO)
No complement activation or systemic inflammation in IT monkey studies; proinflammatory effects in mice

Tegsedi

inotersen · TTR (ASO)
Monkey perivascular inflammation with ADA, CRP, IL-6, TNFa, IgG/IgM rises; complement Bb activation; ADA in some monkeys

Tryngolza

olezarsen · APOC3 (ASO)
Complement activation (Bb up, C3 down) in monkeys; MCP-1/CRP/IFN-gamma increases; ADAs in 25-62.5% of monkeys

Viltepso

viltolarsen · DMD exon 53 (PMO)
No cytokine or immunophenotype effects; transient ~2-fold C3 rise at high dose in mouse; no anti-drug antibodies

Vitravene

fomivirsen · CMV IE2 mRNA (ASO)
Ocular inflammation in monkeys: acute anterior uveitis and cyclitis with inflammatory cells, flare and iris neovascularization

Vyondys 53

golodirsen · DMD exon 53 (PMO)
Transient complement activation (Bb, C3a) in 12-week monkey; no immune function effects in juvenile rat

Wainua

eplontersen · TTR (ASO)
Transient complement Bb increases; non-neutralising ADAs in chronic monkey study; minimal cytokine changes

Waylivra

volanesorsen · APOC3 (ASO)
Complement activation in monkeys (class effect, species-specific); cytokine/chemokine increases (MCP-1, MIP-1b); anti-volanesorsen antibodies in 50-72% of monkeys

Zanvastro

zilganersen · GFAP (ASO)
Low-severity proinflammatory findings (liver mononuclear infiltrates, vacuolated macrophages) in 26-week SC mouse study

Summary across all 28 oligonucleotides →