Safety of <i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i> Vaccines: Anticipating and Overcoming Challenges for Clinical Trials and Post-Marketing Monitoring
Edwin J. Asturias, Jean‐Louis Excler, James Ackland, Marco Cavaleri, Alma Fulurija, Raj Long, Mignon McCulloch, Shiranee Sriskandan, Wellington Sun, Liesl Zühlke, Jérôme H. Kim, James B. Dale, Andrew C. Steer
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) infections result in a vastly underestimated burden of acute and chronic disease globally. The Strep A Vaccine Global Consortium's (SAVAC's) mission is to accelerate the development of safe, effective, and affordable S. pyogenes vaccines. The safety of vaccine recipients is of paramount importance. A single S. pyogenes vaccine clinical trial conducted in the 1960s raised important safety concerns. A SAVAC Safety Working Group was established to review the safety assessment methodology and results of more recent early-phase clinical trials and to consider future challenges for vaccine safety assessments across all phases of vaccine development. No clinical or biological safety signals were detected in any of these early-phase trials in the modern era. Improvements in vaccine safety assessments need further consideration, particularly for pediatric clinical trials, large-scale efficacy trials, and preparation for post-marketing pharmacovigilance.