1. Introduction
Influenza is a globally endemic respiratory virus typically associated with upper respiratory tract infection, cough, and accompanying fever [
1]. While generally not lethal, influenza poses a significant health burden on geriatric, paediatric, or otherwise immunocompromised individuals [
2]. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates around a billion seasonal infections, 3-5 million cases of severe disease outcomes, and up to 650,000 annual deaths can be attributed to influenza each year [
3].
Human infections are primarily caused by influenza types A and B; however types C and D are also known. Influenza can be broadly classified by the composition of its major surface glycoproteins; the entry protein, hemagglutinin (HA), and exit protein neuraminidase (NA). The specific combination of HA and NA not only defines the virus's preferred host target and virulence, but also influences its zoonotic potential and pandemic threat [
1].
Despite circulating for centuries [
4], influenza remains a public health threat. The ability to continue evading existing immune responses is heavily linked to two phenomena; antigenic drift and antigenic shift. Antigenic drift describes the accumulation of glycoprotein mutations in response to selective pressure of acquired immune responses. Antigenic shift describes sudden introductions of new or recombined viral strains. The dramatic rearrangement of the antigenic landscape frequently has a devastating effect on immunologically naïve populations [
5]. This has been demonstrated by the four historical flu outbreaks: the 1918 H1N1 Spanish Flu that killed an estimated 40 million people, the 1957 H2N2 Asian Flu, and the 1968 H3N2 Hong Kong Flu affecting 700,000 and 1 million people respectively, and the 2009 H1N1 Swine Flu affecting 16,000 people worldwide [
6,
7]. All except the 1918 Spanish Flu are attributed to antigenic shift, whereas the Spanish Flu is thought to be a zoonotic avian virus that underwent unusually rapid antigenic drift [
6,
7].
The fact that mildly antigenically drifted seasonal strains tend to be more immunologically tolerable suggests that a person’s infection history significantly influences disease severity. In the early 1980s, distinctions were made regarding “strain-specific” and “cross-reactive” antibodies, with the latter being mentioned as a possible explanation for the ability to tolerate mildly mutated strains [
8]. This was corroborated in 1993, when Okuno and colleagues observed that mice immunized with A/Okuda/57 (H2N2) gained immunity to all H1 and H2 strains through the generation of a singular broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb), termed C179 [
9]. Here we review trends and treatments relating to antibodies capable of neutralizing multiple antigenically drifted, chronologically distinct viruses (intrastrain bnAbs), different viruses within the same Influenza Group (intrasubtypic bnAbs) and viruses within different influenza groups (intergroup bnAbs).
1.1. Hemagglutinin
HA is the primary immunologic target in influenza. Influenza A features 18 different HAs (H1-H18), while Influenza B has two HAs (Yamagata and Victoria). HA is synthesized as an immature HA0 chain, which is proteolytically cleaved by endoplasmic reticulum host proteases into disulphide-linked subunits – HA1 and HA2. HA1 primarily comprises the globular head domain, forming functionally critical structures including the receptor binding site (RBS). HA2, together with a portion of HA1 forms the stem domain. During viral infection, the HA1 RBS binds to sialic acid, inducing viral endocytosis. Upon endosomal acidification, the HA2 subunit undergoes a conformational change leading to the insertion of a hydrophobic fusion peptide into the host membrane. Alongside further conformational changes, this leads to endosomal collapse and the introduction of the viral genome to the host cell (
Fig 1) [
10].
Antibody potency against HA is influenced by both the mutation frequency of the epitope and its functional significance. As such antibodies targeting the head domain, particularly the RBS tend to be highly immunogenic; however epitopes in the head domain are less stable and tend to drift seasonally [
11]. Conversely, antibodies targeting the stem must significantly impede conformational changes during acidification of the endosome or the fusion peptide [
11]. Only few such epitopes have been characterised, yet the lower mutational rate of the HA stem means that functional antibodies are more likely to also be broadly neutralising (Fig 2) [
12,
13,
14].
2. bnAbs against the HA Stem
The discovery of C179 in 1993 demonstrated that broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) targeting the hemagglutinin (HA) stem exist [
9]. However, the reduced accessibility of the stem, combined with the immunodominance of the accessible HA head, has been suggested as a barrier to the development of bnAbs targeting the stem [
15]. It has been shown that enhancing immune focus away from the head by hyperglycosylating variable regions significantly increases the production of stem-targeting antibodies [
16]. To date, only two main immunological stem epitopes have been identified: 1) the Central Stem (CS) Epitope, and 2) the Anchor Epitope/Fusion Peptide (Fig 2). Whether the limited identification of other stem epitopes is due to the functional importance of HA sites, steric constraints, or the dominance of other HA regions remains an open question.
Most stem antibodies characterized to date are IGVH1-69 somatically hypermutated antibodies, that predominantly bind via the heavy-chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) (
Table 2).
Figure 2.
Approximate Locations of Stem Epitopes in Representative Influenza A Group 1 (A/South Carolina/1/1918(H1N1), PDB: 1RUZ), Influenza A Group 2 (A/Hong Kong/1/1968(H3N2), PDB: 4WE4) and Influenza B (B/Hong Kong/8/73, PDB: 3BT6). The central stem (CS) epitope (pink) and fusion peptide (cyan H3N2) or fusion peptide and anchor epitope (cyan H1N1) are in the stem. Conversely the RBS (blue), VE (green), lateral patch (yellow) are situated in the head domain. The occluded epitope and the interface epitope (orange) are marked in orange on a single rotated representative H3N2 monomer.
Figure 2.
Approximate Locations of Stem Epitopes in Representative Influenza A Group 1 (A/South Carolina/1/1918(H1N1), PDB: 1RUZ), Influenza A Group 2 (A/Hong Kong/1/1968(H3N2), PDB: 4WE4) and Influenza B (B/Hong Kong/8/73, PDB: 3BT6). The central stem (CS) epitope (pink) and fusion peptide (cyan H3N2) or fusion peptide and anchor epitope (cyan H1N1) are in the stem. Conversely the RBS (blue), VE (green), lateral patch (yellow) are situated in the head domain. The occluded epitope and the interface epitope (orange) are marked in orange on a single rotated representative H3N2 monomer.
2.1. The Central Stem Epitope
Most stem bnAbs, including C179, target the central stem (CS) epitope (Fig 2,
Table 1) [
17]. This epitope broadly consists of a conserved hydrophobic pocket, which affects conformational changes related to membrane fusion and HA0 processing [
18,
19,
20,
21]. CS antibodies also frequently mediate antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) (
Table 1).
The first human serum-derived bnAb to the CS was discovered in 2008 [
12]. This antibody, called CR6261, elicited broad protection in pandemic H5N1 and H1N1 lethally challenged mice [
12]. The potency of this site became apparent with F10, a human antibody targeting the CS, capable of neutralising H1N1, H2N2, H5N1, H6N1, H6N2, H8N4 and H9N2 [
19]. This was rapidly followed by the discovery of FI6, an antibody that was able to bind to all 16 hemagglutinin subtypes in influenza A, but not influenza B [
21]. FI6 has since been shown to elicit
in vivo protection in mice, ferrets, and pigs against a panel of Influenza A viruses (
Table 1)[
21,
22,
23].
2.2. The Fusion Peptide and Anchor Epitope
A second antigenic site has been identified below the CS epitope and closer to the viral membrane (Fig 2,
Table 1). It was initially thought to be unique to Group 2 influenza A viruses, [
17,
24,
25] with CR8020 [
24] and CR8043 [
25] both eliciting robust protection against H3N2 and H7Nx viruses. However, recently Group 1 influenza has also been found to contain a relevant site near the viral membrane [
26]. This site is reported to possess a strong polyclonal response upon H1N1 vaccination or infection, with classified antibodies – 047-09 4F04, 241 IgA 2F04 and 222-1C06 – recognizing a well conserved epitope amongst Group 1 viruses consisting of W343, H354, Q356, S361 and Y363 [
26].
Table 1.
Overview of Extensively Studied Stem-Targeting Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (bnAbs). This table provides details on some of the most thoroughly researched stem-targeting bnAbs, adding to previously published work [
17]. It includes information on their
in vitro binding affinity,
in vitro neutralization capacity, and
in vivo protective efficacy. The table also lists the immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region (IGHV) gene used, the primary complementarity-determining region (CDR) recognition mode, and whether the antibody exhibits antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) as a significant protection mechanism. Additionally, it specifies whether the antibody was isolated from mice or humans, any known escape mutations, and the IgG subtype used in generating the findings
. A – is shown if the information was not provided.
Table 1.
Overview of Extensively Studied Stem-Targeting Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (bnAbs). This table provides details on some of the most thoroughly researched stem-targeting bnAbs, adding to previously published work [
17]. It includes information on their
in vitro binding affinity,
in vitro neutralization capacity, and
in vivo protective efficacy. The table also lists the immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region (IGHV) gene used, the primary complementarity-determining region (CDR) recognition mode, and whether the antibody exhibits antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) as a significant protection mechanism. Additionally, it specifies whether the antibody was isolated from mice or humans, any known escape mutations, and the IgG subtype used in generating the findings
. A – is shown if the information was not provided.
|
Name |
In vitro Binding |
In vitro Neutralisation |
In vivo Protection |
Germline Encoded IGHV |
CDR Recognition Mode |
ADCC activity |
Source |
Escape Mutants |
IgG-type in Studies |
Ref |
Central Stem |
C179 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H9 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H9 |
H1, H5 |
- |
- |
Yes |
Mouse |
T332K, V395E * |
IgG2a |
[9,27,28] |
27F3 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H9, H11, H12, H13, H16, H3, H7, H10, FluB |
H1, H5, H6, H3, H7, H10 |
- |
IGHV1–69 |
CDRH2 |
- |
Humans |
- |
IgG1 |
[29,30] |
FI6 |
H1-H16 |
H1, H5, H3, H7 |
H1, H5, H3 |
IGHV3–30
|
CDRH3 CDRL1 |
Yes |
Humans |
R62K, D239G, R240Q T333K, A388T ° |
- |
[23] [21,22,31,32] |
CR6261 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9 |
H1, H5 |
IGHV1–69 |
CDRH2 |
Weak |
Humans |
A388V |
IgG1 |
[18,30,33,34,35] |
CR6323 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9 |
- |
IGHV1–69 |
HCDR2 |
- |
Humans |
H357L/T* |
IgG1 |
[34] |
09-2A06 |
H1 |
H1 |
- |
IGHV1–69 |
- |
- |
Humans |
- |
- |
[36] |
09-3A01 |
H1 |
H1 |
- |
IGHV4–39 |
- |
- |
Humans |
- |
- |
05-2G02 |
H1, H3, H5 |
H1, H3, H5 |
- |
IGHV1–18 |
- |
- |
Humans |
- |
- |
A06 |
H1, H5 |
H1, H5 |
H1 |
IGHV1–69 |
- |
- |
Humans |
- |
IgG1 |
[37] |
39.18 |
H1, H2 |
H1, H2 |
- |
IGHV1–69 |
- |
- |
Humans |
- |
- |
[38,39] |
39.29 |
H1, H2, H3 |
H1, H2, H3 |
H1, H3 |
IGHV3-30 |
CDRH3 |
- |
Humans |
G387K, D391Y/G |
- |
81.39 |
H1, H2, H3 |
H1, H2, H3 |
- |
IGHV3-15 |
- |
- |
Humans |
- |
- |
36.89 |
H3 |
H3 |
- |
IGHV1–18 |
- |
- |
Humans |
- |
- |
FE43 |
H1, H5, H6, H9 |
H1, H5, H6, H9 |
H1, H5, H6 |
IGHV1–69 |
- |
- |
Humans |
None found |
IgG1 |
[40] |
FB110 |
H1, H2, H5 |
H1, H2, H5 |
- |
IGHV3-23 |
- |
- |
Humans |
None found |
IgG3 |
3Е1 |
H1, H5, H9, H3, H7 |
H1, H5, H9, H3, H7 |
H1, H5 |
IGHV4-4 |
Mostly Heavy Chain |
- |
Humans |
- |
IgG1 |
[41] |
CT149 |
H1, H5, H9, H3, H7 |
H5, H9, H3, H7 |
H1, H5, H3, H7 |
IGHV1–18 |
CDRH3 CDRH2 |
Yes |
Humans |
- |
IgG1 |
[42] |
31.a.83 |
H1, H2, H5, H9, H3, H7 |
H1, H2, H5, H9, H3, H7 |
- |
IGHV3–23 |
Mostly CDRH3 CDRH2 |
- |
Humans |
- |
- |
[43] |
56.a.09 |
H1, H5, H3, H7 |
H1, H5, H3, H7 |
- |
IGHV6–1 |
Mostly CDRH3 CDRH2 |
- |
Humans |
- |
- |
CR9114 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H12, H13, H16, H3, H4, H7, H10, H15, FluB |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H12, H3, H4, H7, H10 |
H1, H2, H3, H5, H9, FluB |
IGHV1–69 |
CDRH2 |
Weak |
Humans |
R62K, D239G, R240Q, L335V, D363G, A388T ° |
IgG1 |
[30,31,33,44,45] |
F10 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11, H13, H16 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11 |
H1, H5 |
IGHV1–69 |
CDRH2 |
Yes |
Humans |
N460, S123, E190D+G225D, N203VHA + E329KNA * |
IgG1 |
[19,30,32,46] |
MEDI8852 |
H1-H18 |
H1, H2, H5, H6, H9, H3, H7 |
H1, H5, H3 |
IGHV6-1 |
CDRH2 CDRH3 CDRL1 |
Yes |
Humans |
- |
IgG1 |
[47,48] |
CR9117 |
Mouse homologue of CR9114, presumed to have similar neutralization capacity |
- |
Yes |
Mouse |
- |
IgG2a |
[33] |
Anchor Domain
|
Polyclonal response (FISW84 / 222-1C06 were named) |
H1, H2, H5 |
H1, H2, H5 |
H1 |
IGHV3-23 IGHV3-30 IGHV3-30-3 IGHV3-48 |
CDRk3 CDRH2 CDRH3 |
No |
Humans |
- |
IgG1 |
[26] |
Fusion Peptide
|
CR8020 |
H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, H15 |
H3, H7, H10 |
H3, H7 |
IGHV1–18 |
CDRH1 CDRH3 |
Weak |
Humans |
D372N, G376E * |
IgG1 |
[20,25,49,50] |
CR8043 |
H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, H15 |
H3, H7, H10 |
H3, H7 |
IGHV1–3 |
CDRH1 CDRH3 |
- |
Humans |
R378M, Q380R/T * |
IgG1 |
[25,50] |
9H10 |
H3, H9 |
H3, H10 |
H3 |
- |
- |
- |
Mice |
R378M T385R Q387R/T G386E * |
- |
[50] |
4. bnAbs in Clinical Trials
In the 1970s, Köhler and Milstein pioneered hybridoma technology, facilitating the production of monoclonal antibodies [
101]. This breakthrough has significantly advanced the therapeutic use of monoclonal antibodies, particularly in autoimmune diseases, oncology, and infectious diseases. Broadly neutralising monoclonal antibodies (bnMAbs) hold promise as a therapeutic alternative to existing influenza treatments, particularly in combating Influenza A. Ongoing clinical trials aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of stem-targeting bnMAbs in treating influenza infections (
Table 3). Initial findings suggest that bnMAbs may provide significant clinical benefits in managing uncomplicated influenza A, as evidenced by several trials. For instance, in a clinical trial (NCT02071914), patients treated with CT-P27 at doses of 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg exhibited a statistically significant reduction in the area under the curve (AUC) of viral load compared to placebo. Another bnMAb, VIS410, administered at doses of 2000 mg or 4000 mg, demonstrated significant improvement in the signs and symptoms of influenza infection on days 3 and 4, along with a reduction in the time required to resolve peak viral load (NCT02989194).
However, when VIS410 was combined with oral oseltamivir at doses of 3600 mg or 8400 mg, it failed to show a statistically significant reduction in the time to oxygen cessation or in viral load in nasopharyngeal samples compared to oseltamivir with a placebo in hospitalized patients with influenza A infection (NCT03040141).
Similarly, the bnMAb MHAA4549A, at a dose of 3600 mg, resulted in a statistically significant reduction in viral AUC in nasopharyngeal samples in a challenge model involving H3N2 influenza (NCT01980966). Despite this reduction in viral load, MHAA4549A, whether at 3600 mg or 8400 mg, did not improve clinical outcomes over oseltamivir alone in patients hospitalized with severe influenza infections (NCT02293863).
Another bnMAb, MEDI8852, was assessed for its efficacy in treating acute, uncomplicated influenza A infections. However, it did not provide statistically significant improvements over oseltamivir alone and was even associated with potentially worsened disease progression compared to oseltamivir (NCT02603952). Consequently, a subsequent clinical trial to evaluate the dosing regimen of MEDI8852 was withdrawn by the sponsoring company (NCT03028909).
The bnMAb CR6261, while able to significantly reduce the percentage of participants exhibiting influenza symptoms following H1N1 challenge, failed to significantly impact viral shedding, AUC, or disease severity (NCT02371668). Additionally, a trial combining CR6261 with CR8020 was withdrawn due to unsatisfactory preliminary efficacy results (NCT01992276). Similarly, a trial involving CT-P27 was terminated due to the inactivation of the bnMAb (NCT03511066).
These findings emphasize the potential of bnMAbs as a therapeutic strategy against influenza, while also underscoring their limitations and the need for further research. Current clinical trials for influenza predominantly utilize IgG1 bnMAbs. IgG1 and IgG3 are the major subclasses generated during viral infections, with distinct functional differences and characteristics. IgG1 has a shorter 15 amino acid hinge region with only 2 disulfide bonds, providing a longer half-life and potentially greater therapeutic efficacy [
102,
103]. In contrast, IgG3, with its shorter half-life has been overlooked for its therapeutic applications. However, with its longer hinge region of 62 amino acids and 11 disulfide bonds [
102,
103] IgG3 may be able to overcome steric hindrance, a limitation observed in certain stem-targeting bnMAbs such as CR8020 [
104]. Moreover, IgG3 has a higher affinity for the Fc receptors FcγRIIa, FcγRIIIa, and FcγRIIIb in its monomeric form compared to IgG1, while its binding efficiency in complex form exceeds IgG1 for all receptors [
102], making it particularly effective at activating CDC and ADCC [
103] mechanisms employed by multiple head and stem targeting bnAbs (
Table 1 and 2) to indirectly neutralize influenza [
105,
106,
107]. Switching the subclass of MAbs has been seen to have beneficial effects for SARS-CoV-2, with the switch from an IgG1 to an IgG3 enhancing both Fc mediated phagocytosis and the triggering of the classical complement pathway [
108]. Additionally, Bolton and colleagues found that IgG3 antibodies exhibited superior binding and neutralisation capacity to antigenically drifted influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses relative to other IgG subclasses [
109].
To enhance the therapeutic efficacy of IgG1 bnMAbs, modifications to the Fc region could be explored to improve ADCC initiation. Ocaratuzumab is an anti-CD20 mAb which has Fc modifications, P247I/A339Q, which have been shown to increase its binding to lower-affinity FcγRIIIa allowing it to have increased ADCC activity [
110,
111,
112]. Fc modifications can also be used to increase the half life of antibodies to improve their therapeutic efficacy. The MAb therapy Sotrovimab, which was approved for use against SARS-CoV-2, has the Fc modifications M428L/N434S to extend the half life of the antibody [
113].
Another promising approach involves the development of chimeric IgG1/IgG3 antibodies, which may enhance ADCC and CDC as well as improving binding to sterically hindered stem regions. Natsume and colleagues generated a chimeric form of rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, that consisted of the CH1 and hinge regions from IgG1, with the Fc region of IgG3 with the COOH terminal CH3 domain of IgG1. This chimeric antibody showed enhanced CDC and ADCC activities compared to the wild type [
114]. Chimeric antibodies could combine the favourable pharmacokinetics of IgG1 with the functional advantages of IgG3, potentially overcoming the limitations associated with IgG3 monotherapy [
114,
115]. These strategies highlight avenues for optimizing bnMAb design to improve their utility in influenza treatment. Further research into IgG subclass-specific characteristics and their impact on bnMAb efficacy is warranted.
Table 3.
Table of stem-targeting bnMAb’s currently undergoing clinical trials for use in influenza infection. Information about the type of antibody, target, dose regime and results were taken from the corresponding study record listed on the NIH clinical studies site.
Table 3.
Table of stem-targeting bnMAb’s currently undergoing clinical trials for use in influenza infection. Information about the type of antibody, target, dose regime and results were taken from the corresponding study record listed on the NIH clinical studies site.
Name |
Type and Target |
Dosage/ Infection Model |
Result |
Trial Registry ID/ Reference |
CT-P27 |
CT-120 & CT-149 mAb’s targeting the stem region of group 1 and group 2 influenza hemagglutinin |
10 mg/kg CT-P27, 20 mg/kg CT-P27, or placebo in an influenza challenge model |
Reduction of AUC of Viral Load, as measured by Quantitative PCR of Nasopharyngeal Swab for patients who received CT-P27 |
NCT02071914, [105] |
90 mg/kg CT-P27, 45 mg/kg CT-P27, or placebo |
NCT03511066 was terminated due to CT-P27 inactivation |
NCT03511066. |
MEDI8852 |
Human IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting H1N1 and H3N2 viruses, as well as subtypes such as H2, H5, H6, H7, and H9 via the stem region |
750 mg or 3000mg MEDI8852 given with oseltamivir or 3000 mg MEDI8852 on its own to patients with acute, uncomplicated influenza caused by Type A strains. |
MEDI8852 provided no statistically significant improvement over oseltamivir alone, potentially worsened disease in combination compared to oseltamivir alone |
NCT02603952,[116] |
Low dose and high dose of MEDI8852 and oseltamivir in comparison to oseltamivir and placebo |
Withdrawn due to company decision |
NCT03028909 |
VIS410 |
Human immunoglobulin IgG1 monoclonal antibody engineered to bind to the stem region of group 1 and 2 influenza A hemagglutinins |
Influenza challenge with H1N1 followed by a single administration of VIS410 or placebo |
No results posted |
NCT02468115, [117] |
2000mg or 4000mg VIS410 was given to patients with uncomplicated influenza A infection and compared to a placebo |
Statistically significant improvement in signs and symptoms of influenza infection on day 3 and 4 with VIS410 compared to placebo. Statistically significant reduction in time to resolution of peak viral load when patients were given VIS410. |
NCT02989194, [118] |
3600 mg or 8400 mg VIS410 combined with oral oseltamivir or placebo with oseltamivir in patients hospitalised with influenza A infection |
No statistically significant reduction in time to cessation of oxygen, or reduction of viral load in nasopharyngeal samples |
NCT03040141 |
MHAA4549A |
Human monoclonal antibody, IgG1, targeting the influenza A virus hemagglutinin stem across multiple subtypes |
Influenza challenge with H3N2 influenza virus followed by a dose of 400 mg, 1200 mg or 3600 mg |
Statistically significant reduction in AUC of virus in nasopharyngeal samples was seen at 3600mg compared to placebo. Influenza symptom scores, mucus weight, and inflammatory biomarkers were also reduced. |
NCT01980966 |
3600mg or 8400mg given either on its own or with oseltamivir to patients hospitalised with severe influenza infection |
MHAA4549A did not improve clinical outcomes over OTV alone. MHAA4549A+OTV did not further reduce viral load versus placebo+OTV.MHAA4549A did not alleviate symptoms quicker than a placebo. |
NCT02293863, [119] |
3600mg or 8400mg given to patients with uncomplicated seasonal influenza A infection |
3600mg dose was able to statistically reduce the number of days to alleviate symptoms compared to the control |
NCT02623322 |
CR8020 |
A mAb targeting the stem region of group 2 influenza A hemagglutinin |
15 mg/kg CR8020 given before challenge with a H3N2 influenza virus. |
No results |
NCT01938352 |
CR6261 |
mAb that targets the stem region of group 1 and group 2 influenza hemagglutinin |
50 mg/kg administered one day after challenge with H1N1 |
Statistically reduced percentage of participants who experienced influenza symptoms. No statistically significant reduction in AUC or viral shedding. |
NCT02371668, [120] |
CR8020/ CR6261 |
|
|
Withdrawn due to preliminary efficacy results from an influenza challenge trial |
NCT01992276 |
5. Broadly Protective Vaccines in Clinical Trials
bnMAbs represent a promising secondary defence mechanism against influenza, complementing the primary defence provided by vaccination. Current influenza vaccines require annual updates to address antigenic drift and shift. However, the induction of bnAbs via vaccination could offer cross-protection against multiple strains of influenza, irrespective of antigenic variations. Vaccines designed to elicit bnAbs may provide long-term immunity and reduce the need for frequent vaccine reformulations. Several clinical trials are currently investigating novel influenza vaccines aimed at inducing bnAb formation (
Table 4). These trials employ various strategies to stimulate bnAb production specifically targeting the hemagglutinin protein of influenza A.
One promising approach involves presenting only the stem region of the influenza virus, aiming to elicit bnAbs against conserved stem epitopes across diverse influenza strains. UFluA, a stabilized stem nanoparticle vaccine currently in Phase 1 trials (NCT05155319), exemplifies this strategy. By stabilizing the HA stem into a nanoparticle format, UFluA aims to induce bnAbs effective against both group 1 and group 2 influenza A viruses, offering broad cross-protection.
Another vaccine candidate, H1ssF, employs the stem domain from Influenza A/New Caledonia/20/1999 (H1N1) genetically fused to the ferritin protein from Helicobacter pylori. This design is intended to enhance the presentation of the stem region to the immune system, thereby inducing bnAbs targeting the stem. Initial results from a Phase 1 trial demonstrated that H1ssF generated an increased IC80 concentration in a pseudoviral neutralization assay against the homologous H1N1 A/New Caledonia/20/99 virus (NCT03814720), indicating promising immunogenicity.
The G1 mHA vaccine utilizes a ‘mini-HA,’ a stabilized form of the HA stem trimer [
121]. Previous studies have shown that this design can induce stem-targeting antibodies against various group 1 viruses in non-human primates [
122]. Currently, G1 mHA is undergoing a Phase 1/2 trial (NCT05901636) to further evaluate its efficacy and safety in humans.
Chimeric vaccines represent another innovative approach to induce stem-targeting bnAbs. These vaccines employ a prime-boost regimen, using vaccines with different HA head domains but a consistent stem domain to focus the immune response on the stem. GSK3816302A, a chimeric vaccine currently in Phase 1 trials (NCT03275389), incorporates cH8/1 N1, cH5/1 N1, and cH11/1 N1 constructs to elicit bnAbs targeting the H1 stem. Initial results indicate an increase in anti-H1 stem antibodies post-vaccination, with a statistically significant humoral immune response. Notably, increased antibody titres against H2 and H18 subtypes were also observed, suggesting potential cross-reactivity [
123].
A specific subset of bnAbs target the HA stem region in its post-fusion form (
Table 1). To induce these bnAbs, vaccines must present the stem in a non-native post-fusion conformation. Previous studies have demonstrated that vaccines designed to present this form can induce protective bnAbs in mice, offering cross-protection against mismatched influenza A strains [
124]. A clinical trial evaluating a post-fusion hemagglutinin antigen is currently in the recruitment phase (NCT06460064).
In parallel, a universal influenza vaccine, M-001, which incorporates conserved epitopes from the M1 matrix protein, NP, and HA of both influenza A and B, has advanced to Phase 3 trials [
125]. Despite initial promise, results from this trial indicated no statistically significant difference between control and vaccine groups regarding the prevention of influenza illness or reduction in symptom severity (NCT03450915). These results show that while inducing the production of bnAb’s against hemagglutinin is an attractive route forward for the formation of a universal influenza vaccine, many challenges exist for these vaccines, and continued research into this area is required.
Table 4.
Table of broadly protective vaccines and vaccine antigens targeting the hemagglutinin currently undergoing clinical trials for use in influenza prevention.
Table 4.
Table of broadly protective vaccines and vaccine antigens targeting the hemagglutinin currently undergoing clinical trials for use in influenza prevention.
Phase |
Name of vaccine |
Target/ Type of vaccine |
Dosage/ Infection model |
Results |
Trial Registry ID/ Reference |
Recruiting |
fH1/DSP-0546LP |
Post-fusion hemagglutinin antigen |
Combination of 2 dose levels of fH1 (2 and 8 μg), 3 dose levels of DSP-0546LP (2.5, 5, and 10 μg), and placebo. Each dose level of fH1 will be combined with the low, medium, and high dose level of DSP-0546LP to assess safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity |
Active |
NCT06460064, [124] |
Phase 1 |
EBS-UFV-001
|
Induction of antibodies against conserved stem antigens across group 1 and 2 via a hemagglutinin stabilized stem nanoparticle vaccine |
Testing the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of 20 µg or 60 µg of UFluA as single dose or as two dose |
No results posted |
NCT05155319, [126] |
|
H1ssF |
HA stem domain from Influenza A/New Caledonia/20/1999 (H1N1) genetically fused to the ferritin protein from H. pylori. |
20 mcg was given to group 1, group 2 received 60 mcg on a prime boost schedule. |
All regimes generated an increased IC80 concentration when tested in a pseudoviral neutralization assay against the homologous H1N1 A/New Caledonia/20/99 virus |
NCT03814720 |
|
GSK3816302A |
Chimeric vaccines of D-SUIV cH8/1 N1, D-SUIV cH5/1 N1, and D-SUIV cH11/1 N1 to induce cross reactive stem targeting antibodies against H1 stem |
Chimeric H5, H8 and H11 with and without adjuvants AS03 or AS01 were tested for their reactogenicity, safety and immunogenicity. H8 and H5 were given with a placebo second dose, or all three were given. |
An increase in anti H1 stem antibodies, as measured by ELISA and MN assay, was seen across all dose schedules with adjuvant AS03 providing a statistically significant increase in humoral immune response for anti-H1 stem antibody by ELISA at Day 29 and Day 85. Increases in antibody titres against H2 and H18 were also identified. |
NCT03275389, [123] |
Phase 1/2 |
G1 mHA |
Mini-hemagglutinin stem-derived protein vaccine antigen |
Single dose of influenza G1 mHA with or without Al(OH)3 adjuvant at two dose levels to evaluate safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity |
Active |
NCT05901636, [121,122] |
Phase 3 |
(M-001) |
A recombinant 45 kDa protein produced in Escherichia coli. consisting of three repetitions of nine linear, conserved influenza A and B epitopes to form a single recombinant protein. Epitopes were derived from: M1 matrix protein, NP and HA |
Vaccination with 1mg dose of M-001 twice: Once at Day 0, and once at Day 21 then followed for 2 years |
No statistical difference in prevention of influenza infection. Did not statistically reduce the number of patients with influenza like symptoms, or a reduction of severity of either qRT-PCR or culture-confirmed influenza illness |
NCT03450915, [125] |