Title of Invention

AN IMMUNOGENIC COMPOSITION COMPRISING S. PNEUMONIAE CAPSULAR SACCHARIDE CONJUGATES FROM SEROTYPES 19A AND 19F

Abstract The present invention discloses an immunogenic composition comprising S. pneumoniae capsular saccharide conjugates from serotypes 19A and 19F wherein 19A is conjugated to a first bacterial toxoid and 19F is conjugated to a second bacterial toxoid. Vaccines, methods of making vaccines and uses of the vaccines are also described.
Full Text VACCINE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved Streptococcus pneumonia vaccine.
Background of the Invention
Children less than 2 years of age do not mount an immune response to most
polysaccharide vaccines, so it has been necessary to render the polysaccharides
immunogenic by chemical conjugation to a protein carrier. Coupling the polysaccharide, a
T-independent antigen, to a protein, a T-dependent antigen, confers upon the
polysaccharide the properties of T dependency including isotype switching, affinity
maturation, and memory induction.
However, there can be issues with repeat administration of polysaccharide-protein
conjugates, or the combination of polysaccharide-protein conjugates to form multivalent
vaccines. For example, it has been reported that a Haemophilus influenzae type b
polysaccharide (PRP) vaccine using tetanus toxoid (TT) as the protein carrier was tested
in a dosage-range with simultaneous immunization with (free) TT and a pneumococcal
polysaccharide-TT conjugate vaccine following a standard infant schedule. As the
dosage of the pneumococcal vaccine was increased, the immune response to the PRP
polysaccharide portion of the Hib conjugate vaccine was decreased, indicating immune
interference of the polysaccharide, possibly via the use of the same carrier protein (Dagan
etal., Infect Immun. (1998); 66: 2093-2098)
The effect of the carrier-protein dosage on the humoral response to the protein
itself has also proven to be multifaceted. In human infants it was reported that increasing
the dosage of a tetravalent tetanus toxoid conjugate resulted in a decreased response to
the tetanus carrier (Dagan et al. supra). Classical analysis of these effects of combination
vaccines have been described as carrier induced epitopic suppression, which is not fully
understood, but believed to result from an excess amount of carrier protein (Fattom,
Vaccine XV. 126 (1999)). This appears to result in competition for Th-cells. by the B-cells
to the carrier protein, and B-cells to the polysaccharide. If the B-cells to the carrier protein
predominate, there are not enough Th-cells available to provide the necessary help for the
B-cells specific to the polysaccharide. However, the observed immunological effects have
been inconsistent, with the total amount of carrier protein in some instances increasing
the immune response, and in other cases diminishing the immune response.

Hence there remain technical difficulties in combining multiple polysaccharide
conjugates into a single, efficacious, vaccine formulation.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for
considerable morbidity and mortality (particularly in the young and aged), causing invasive
diseases such as pneumonia, bacteraemia and meningitis, and diseases associated with
colonisation, such as acute Otitis media. The rate of pneumococcal pneumonia in the US
for persons over 60 years of age is estimated to be 3 to 8 per 100,000. In 20% of cases
this leads to bacteraemia, and other manifestations such as meningitis, with a mortality
rate close to 30% even with antibiotic treatment.
Pneumococcus is encapsulated with a chemically linked polysaccharide which
confers serotype specificity. There are 90 known serotypes of pneumococci, and the
capsule is the principle virulence determinant for pneumococci, as the capsule not only
protects the inner surface of the bacteria from complement, but is itself poorly
immunogenic. Polysaccharides are T-independent antigens, and can not be processed or
presented on MHC molecules to interact with T-cells. They can however, stimulate the
immune system through an alternate mechanism which involves cross-linking of surface
receptors on B cells.
It was shown in several experiments that protection against invasive pneumococci
disease is correlated most strongly with antibody specific for the capsule, and the
protection is serotype specific.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of invasive bacterial
disease and Otitis media in infants and young children. Likewise, the elderly mount poor
responses to pneumococcal vaccines [Roghmann et a/., (1987), J. Gerontol. 42:265-270],
hence the increased incidence of bacterial pneumonia in this population [Verghese and
Berk, (1983) Medicine (Baltimore) 62:271-285].
It is thus an object of the present invention to develop an improved formulation of a
multiple serotype Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharide conjugate vaccine.
Brief description of Figures
Figure 1 Bar chart showing 11 valent conjugate immunogenicity in elderly Rhesus
monkeys. The lighter bars represent the GMC after two inoculations with 11 valent
conjugate in aluminium phosphate adjuvant. The darker bars represent the GMC after
two inoculations with 11 valent conjugate in adjuvant C.

Figure 2 Bar chart showing memory B cells for PS3 after inoculation with the 11 valent
conjugate in adjuvant C or aluminium phosphate adjuvant.
Figure 3 Bar chart showing anti polysaccharide 19F immunogenicity in Balb/C mice for
the 4-valent plain polysaccharides and the 4-valent dPIy conjugates.
Figure 4 Bar chart showing anti polysaccharide 22F immunogenicity in Balb/C mice for
the 4-valent plain polysaccharides and the 4-valent PhtD conjugates.
Figure 5 Bar chart showing anti-22F IgG response in Ballb/c mice
Figure 6 Bar chart showing anti-22F opsono-phagocytosis titres in Balb/c mice.
Figure 7 Bar chart comparing IgG responses induced in young C57B1 mice after
immunisation with 13 Valent conjugate vaccine formulated in different adjuvants.
Figure 8 Bar chart showing the protective efficacy of different vaccine combinations in a
monkey pneumonia model.
Figure 9 Bar chart showing anti PhtD IgG response in E3alb/c mice after immunisation
with 22F-PhtD or 22F-AH-PhtD conjugates.
Figure 10 Protection against type 4 pneumococcal challenge in mice after immunisation
with 22F-PMD or 22F-AH-PhtD.
Description of the Invention
The present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising Streptococcus
pneumoniae capsular saccharide conjugates from serotypes 19A and 19F wherein 19A is
conjugated to a carrier protein which is a first bacterial toxoid and 19F is conjugated to a
carrier protein which is a second bacterial toxoid.
The term capsular saccharide includes capsular polysaccharides and oligosaccharides
derivable from the capsular polysaccharide. An oligosaccharide contains at least 4 sugar
residues. The terms conjugate and conjugated relate to a capsular saccharide covalently
bonded to a carrier protein.

For the purposes of this invention, "immunizing a human host against exacerbations of
COPD" or treatment or prevention of exacerbations of COPD" or "reduction in severity of
COPD exacerbations" refers to a reduction in incidence or rate of COPD exacerbations
(for instance a reduction in rate of 0.1, 0.5,1, 2, 5,10, 20% or more), for instance within a
patient group immunized with the compositions or vaccines of the invention.
The term bacterial toxoid includes bacterial toxins which are inactivated either by genetic
mutation, by chemical treatment or by conjugation. Suitable bacterial toxoids include
tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, pertussis toxoid, bacterial cytolysins or pneumolysin.
Mutations of pneumolysin (Ply) have been described which lower the toxicity of
pneumolysin (WO 90/06951, WO 99/03884). Similarly, genetic mutations of diphtheria
toxin which lower its toxicity are known (see below). Genetically detoxified analogues of
diphtheria toxin include CRM197 and other mutants described in US 4,709,017, US
5,843,711, US 5,601,827, and US 5,917,017. CRM197 is a non-toxic form of the
diphtheria toxin but is immunologically indistinguishable from the diphtheria toxin.
CRM197 is produced by C. diphtheriae infected by the nontoxigenic phase 197tox-
created by nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis of the toxigenic carynephage b (Uchida et al
Nature New Biology (1971) 233; 8-11). The CRM197 protein has the same molecular
weight as the diphtheria toxin but differs from it by a single base change in the structural
gene. This leads to a glycine to glutamine change of amino acid at position 52 which
makes fragment A unable to bind NAD and therefore non-toxic (Pappenheimer 1977, Ann
Rev, Biochem. 46; 69-94, Rappuoli Applied and Environmental Microbiology Sept 1983
P560-564).
The first and second bacterial toxoids may be the same or different. Where the first and
second bacterial toxoids are different, it is meant that they have a different amino acid
sequence.
For example, 19A and 19F may be conjugated to tetanus toxoid and tetanus toxoid;
diphtheria toxoid and diphtheria toxoid; Crm197 and CRM197, pneumolysin and
pneumolysin, tetanus toxoid and diphtheria toxoid; tetanus toxoid and CRM197; tetanus
toxoid and pneumolysin; diphtheria toxoid and tetanus toxoid; diphtheria toxoid and
CRM197, diphtheria toxoid and pneumolysin; CRM197 and tetanus toxoid, CRM197 and
diphtheria toxoid; CRM197 and pneumolysin; Pneumolysin and tetanus toxoid;
pneumolysin and diphtheria toxoid; or pneumolysin and CRM197 respectively.

In an embodiment, in addition to S. pneumoniae saccharide conjugates of 19A and 19F,
the immunogenic composition further comprises conjugates of S. pneumoniae capsular
saccharides 4, 6B, 9V, 14,18C and 23F.
In an embodiment, in addition to S. pneumoniae saccharide conjugates of 19A and 19F,
the immunogenic composition further comprises conjugates of S. pneumoniae capsular
saccharides 1. 4, 5, 6B. 7F, 9V, 14,18C and 23F.
In an embodiment, in addition to S. pneumoniae saccharide conjugates of 19A and 19F,
the immunogenic composition further comprises conjugates of S. pneumoniae capsular
saccharides 1, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14,18C, 22F and 23F.
In an embodiment, in addition to S. pneumoniae saccharide conjugates of 19A and 19F,
the immunogenic composition further comprises conjug;ates of S. pneumoniae capsular
saccharides 1, 3,4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 22F and 23F.
In an embodiment, in addition to S. pneumoniae saccharide conjugates of 19A and 19F,
the immunogenic composition further comprises conjugates of S. pneumoniae capsular
saccharides 1, 3. 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F. 9V, 14,18C, 22F and 23F.
Typically the Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine of the present invention will comprise
capsular saccharide antigens (optionally conjugated), wherein the saccharides are
derived from at least ten serotypes of S. pneumoniae. The number of S. pneumoniae
capsular saccharides can range from 10 different serotypes (or "V, valences) to 23
different serotypes (23V). In one embodiment there are 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 different
serotypes. In another embodiment of the invention, the vaccine may comprise conjugated
S. pneumoniae saccharides and unconjugated S. pneumoniae saccharides. Optionally,
the total number of saccharide serotypes is less than or equal to 23. For example, the
invention may comprise 10 conjugated serotypes and 13 unconjugated saccharides. In a
similar manner, the vaccine may comprise 11, 12, 13, 14 or 16 conjugated saccharides
and 12,11,10, 9 or 7 respectively, unconjugated saccharides.
In one embodiment the multivalent pneumococcal vaccine of the invention will be selected
from the following serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B,

17F, 18C, 19A, 19F, 20, 22F, 23F and 33F, although it is appreciated that one or two
other serotypes could be substituted depending on the age of the recipient receiving the
vaccine and the geographical location where the vaccine will be administered. For
example, a 10-valent vaccine may comprise polysaccharides from serotypes 1, 4, 5, 6B,
7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F. An 11-valent vaccine may also include saccharides from
serotype 3. A 12 or 13-valent paediatric (infant) vaccine may also include the 11 valent
formulation supplemented with serotypes 6A and 19A, or 6A and 22F, or 19A and 22F, or
6A and 15B, or 19A and 15B, or 22F and 15B, whereas a 13-valent elderly vaccine may
include the 10 or 11 valent formulation supplemented with serotypes 19A and 22F, 8 and
12F, or 8 and 15B, or 8 and 19A, or 8 and 22F, or 12F and 15B, or 12F and 19A, or 12F
and 22F, or 15B and 19A, or 15B and 22F. A 14 vaient paediatric vaccine may include the
10 valent formulation described above supplemented with serotypes 3, 6A, 19A and 22F;
serotypes 6A, 8, 19A and 22F; serotypes 6A, 12F, 19A and 22F; serotypes 6A, 15B, 19A
and 22F; serotypes 3, 8, 19A and 22F; serotypes 3, 12F, 19A and 22F; serotypes 3, 15B,
19A and 22F; serotypes 3, 6A, 8 and 22F; serotypes 3, 6A, 12F and 22F; or serotypes 3,
6A, 15Band22F.
The composition in one embodiment includes capsular saccharides derived from
serotypes 1, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F (optionally conjugated). In a further
embodiment of the invention at least 11 saccharide antigens (optionally conjugated) are
included, for example capsular saccharides derived from serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V,
14, 18C, 19F and 23F. In a further embodiment of the invention, at least 12 or 13
saccharide antigens are included, for example a vaccine may comprise capsular
saccharides derived from serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F
or capsular saccharides derived from serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F,
22F and 23F, although further saccharide antigens, for example 23 valent (such as
serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11 A, 12F. 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19A, 19F,
20, 22F, 23F and 33F), are also contemplated by the invention.
The vaccine of the present invention may comprise protein D (PD) from Haemophilus
influenzae (see e.g. EP 0594610). Haemophilus influenzae is a key causative organism
of otitis media, and the present inventors have shown that including this protein in a
Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine will provide a level of protection against Haemophilus
influenzae related otitis media (reference POET publication). In one embodiment, the
vaccine composition comprises protein D. In one aspect, PD is present as a carrier

protein for one or more of the saccharides. In another aspect, protein D could be present
in the vaccine composition as a free protein. In a further aspect, protein D is present both
as a earner protein and as free protein. Protein D may be used as a full length protein or
as a fragment (WO0056360). In a further aspect, protein D is present as a carrier protein
for the majority of the saccharides, for example 6, 7, 8, 9 or more of the saccharides may
be conjugated to protein D. In this aspect, protein D may also be present as free protein.
The vaccine of the present invention comprises one, two or more different types of carrier
protein. Each type of carrier protein may act as carrier for more than one saccharide,
which saccharides may be the same or different. For example, serotypes 3 and 4 may be
conjugated to the same carrier protein, either to the same molecule of carrier protein or to
different molecules of the same carrier protein. In one embodiment, two or more different
saccharides may be conjugated to the same carrier protein, either to the same molecule
of carrier protein or to different molecules of the same carrier protein.
Any Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular saccharides present in the immunogenic
composition of the invention apart from 19A and 19F may be conjugated to a carrier
protein independently selected from the group consisting of TT, DT, CRM197, fragment C
of TT, PhtD, PhtBE or PhtDE fusions (particularly those described in WO 01/98334 and
WO 03/54007), detoxified pneumolysin and protein D. A more complete list of protein
carriers that may be used in the conjugates of the invention is presented below.
The carrier protein conjugated to one or more of the S. pneumoniae capsular saccharides
in the conjugates present in the immunogenic compositions of the invention is optionally a
member of the polyhistidine triad family (Pht) proteins, fragments or fusion proteins
thereof. The PhtA, PhtB, PhtD or PhtE proteins may have an amino acid sequence
sharing 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with a sequence disclosed in
WO 00/37105 or WO 00/39299 (e.g. with amino acid sequence 1-838 or 21-838 of SEQ
ID NO: 4 of WO 00/37105 for PhtD). For example, fusion proteins are composed of full
length or fragments of 2, 3 or 4 of PhtA, PhtB, PhtD, PhtE. Examples of fusion proteins
are PhtA/B, PhtA/D. PhtA/E, PhtB/A, PhtB/D, PhtB/E. PhtD/A. PhtD/B, PhtD/E, PhtE/A,
PhtE/B and PhtE/D, wherein the proteins are linked with the first mentioned at the N-
terminus (see for example WO01/98334).

Where fragments of Pht proteins are used (separately or as part of a fusion protein), each
fragment optionally contains one or more histidine triad motif(s) and/or coiled coil regions
of such polypeptides. A histidine triad motif is the portion of polypeptide that has the
sequence HxxHxH where H is histidine and x is an amino acid other than histidine. A
coiled coil region is a region predicted by "Coils" algorithm Lupus, A et al (1991) Science
252; 1162-1164. In an embodiment the or each fragment includes one or more histidine
triad motif as well as at least one coiled coil region. In an embodiment, the or each
fragment contains exactly or at least 2, 3, 4 or 5 histidine triad motifs (optionally, with
native Pht sequence between the 2 or more triads, or intra-triad sequence that is more
than 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 % identical to a native pneumococcal intra-triad Pht
sequence - e.g. the intra-triad sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 of WO 00/37105 for
PhtD). In an embodiment, the or each fragment contains exactly or at least 2, 3 or 4 coiled
coil regions. In an embodiment a Pht protein disclosed herein includes the full length
protein with the signal sequence attached, the mature full length protein with the signal
peptide (for example 20 amino acids at N-terminus) removed, naturally occurring variants
of Pht protein and immunogenic fragments of Pht protein (e.g. fragments as described
above or polypeptides comprising at least 15 or 20 contiguous amino acids from an amino
acid sequence in WO00/37105 or WO00/39299 wherein said polypeptide is capable of
eliciting an immune response specific for said amino acid sequence in WO00/37105 or
WO00/39299).
In particular, the term "PhtD* as used herein includes the full length protein with the signal
sequence attached, the mature full length protein with the signal peptide (for example 20
amino acids at N-terminus) removed, naturally occurring variants of PhtD and
immunogenic fragments of PhtD (e.g. fragments as described above or polypeptides
comprising at least 15 or 20 contiguous amino acids fromi a PhtD amino acid sequence in
WO00/37105 or WO00/39299 wherein said polypeptide is capable of eliciting an immune
response specific for said PhtD amino acid sequence in WO00/37105 or WOOO/39299
(e.g. SEQ ID NO: 4 of WO 00/37105 for PhtD).
If the protein carrier is the same for 2 or more saccharides in the composition, the
saccharides could be conjugated to the same molecule of the protein carrier, (carrier
molecules having 2 more different saccharides conjugated to it) [see for instance WO
04/083251], Alternatively the saccharides may each be separately conjugated to different

molecules of the protein carrier (each molecule of protein carrier only having one type of
saccharide conjugated to it).
Examples of carrier proteins which may be used in the present invention are DT
(Diphtheria toxoid), TT (tetanus toxiod) or fragment C of TT, DT CRM197 (a DT mutant)
other DT point mutants, such as CRM176, CRM228, CRM 45 (Uchida et al J. Biol. Chem.
218; 3838-3844, 1973); CRM 9, CRM 45, CRM102, CRM 103 and CRM107 and other
mutations described by Nicholls and Youle in Genetically Engineered Toxins, Ed: Frankel,
Maecel Dekker Inc. 1992; deletion or mutation of Glu-148 to Asp, Gln or Ser and/or Ala
158 to Gly and other mutations disclosed in US 4709017 or US 4950740; mutation of at
least one or more residues Lys 516, Lys 526, Phe 530 and/or Lys 534 and other
mutations disclosed in US 5917017 or US 6455673; or fragment disclosed in US
5843711, pneumococcai pneumolysin (Kuo et al (1995) Infect Immun 63; 2706-13)
including ply detoxified in some fashion for example dPLY-GMBS (WO 04081515,
PCT/EP2005/010258) or dPLY-formol, PhtX, including PhtA, PhtB, PhtD, PhtE and
fusions of Pht proteins for example PhtDE fusions, PhtBE fusions (WO 01/98334 and WO
03/54007), (Pht A-E are described in more detail below) OMPC (meningococcal outer
membrane protein - usually extracted from N. meningitidis serogroup B - EP0372501),
PorB (from N. meningitidis), PD (Haemophilus influenzae protein D - see, e.g., EP 0 594
610 B), or immunologically functional equivalents thereof, synthetic peptides (EP0378881,
EP0427347), heat shock proteins (WO 93/17712, WO 94/03208), pertussis proteins (WO
98/58668, EP0471177), cytokines, lymphokines, growth factors or hormones (WO
91/01146), artificial proteins comprising multiple human CD4+ T cell epitopes from various
pathogen derived antigens (Falugi et al (2001) Eur J Immunol 31; 3816-3824) such as
N19 protein (Baraldoi et al (2004) Infect Immun 72; 4884-7) pneumococcai surface protein
PspA (WO 02/091998), iron uptake proteins (WO 01/72337), toxin A or B of C. difficile
(WO 00/61761).
Nurkka ef al Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 23(11):1008-14, 2004 Nov.
described an 11 valent pneumococcai vaccine with all serotypes conjugated to PD.
However, the present inventors have shown that opsonophagocytic activity was improved
for antibodies induced with conjugates having 19F conjugated to DT compared with 19F
conjugated to PD. In addition, the present inventors have shown that a greater cross
reactivity to 19A is seen with 19F conjugated to DT. It is therefore a feature of the
composition of the present invention that serotype 19F is conjugated to a bacterial toxoid,

for example TT, pneumolysin, DT or CRM 197. In one aspect, serotype 19F is conjugated
to DT. It is also a feature of the invention that serotype 19A is conjugated to a bacterial
toxoid, for example TT, pneumolysin, DT or CRM 197. The remaining saccharide
serotypes of the immunogenic composition may all be conjugated to one or more carrier
proteins that are not DT (i.e. only 19F is conjugated to DT), or may be split between one
or more carrier proteins that are not DT and DT itself. In one embodiment, 19F is
conjugated to DT or CRM 197 and all of the remaining serotypes are conjugated to PD.
In a further embodiment, 19F is conjugated to DT or CRM 197, and the remaining
serotypes are split between PD, and TT or DT or CRM 197. In a further embodiment, 19F
is conjugated to DT or CRM 197 and no more than one saccharide is conjugated to TT.
in one aspect of this embodiment, said one saccharide is 18C or 12F. In a further
embodiment, 19F is conjugated to DT or CRM 197 and no more than two saccharides are
conjugated to TT. In a further embodiment, 19F is conjugated to DT or CRM 197, and the
remaining serotypes are split between PD, TT and DT or CRM 197. In a further
embodiment, 19F is conjugated to DT or CRM 197, and the remaining serotypes are split
between PD, TT and pneumolysin. In a further embodiment, 19F is conjugated to DT or
CRM 197, and the remaining serotypes are split between PD, TT and CRM 197. In a
further embodiment, 19F is conjugated to DT or CRM197 and the remaining serotypes are
split between PD, TT, pneumolysin and optionally PhtD or PhtD/E fusion protein. In a
further embodiment, 19F is conjugated to DT or CRM197, 19A is conjugated to
pneumoiysin or TT and the remaining serotypes are split between PD, TT, pneumolysin
and optionally PhtD or PhtD/E fusion protein. In a further embodiment, 19F is conjugated
to DT or CRM197, 19A is conjugated to pneumolysin or TT, one further saccharide is
conjugated to TT, one further saccharide is conjugated to PhtD or PhtD/E and all further
saccharides are conjugated to PD. In a further embodiment 19F is conjugated to DT or
CRM197, 19A is conjugated to pneumolysin , one further saccharide is conjugated to TT,
one further saccharide is conjugated to pneumolysin, 2 further saccharides are
conjugated to PhtD or PhtD/E and all further saccharides are conjugated to PD.
In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the invention comprises protein D
from Haemophilus influenzae. Within this embodiment, If PD is not one of the carrier
proteins used to conjugate any saccharides other than 19F, for example 19F is
conjugated to DT whilst the other serotypes are conjugated to one or more different
carrier proteins which are not PD, then PD will be present in the vaccine composition as

free protein. If PD is one of the carrier proteins used to conjugate saccharides other than
19F, then PD may optionally be present in the vaccine composition as free protein.
The term "saccharide" throughout this specification may indicate polysaccharide or
oligosaccharide and includes both. Polysaccharides are isolated from bacteria and may
be sized to some degree by known methods (see for example EP497524 and EP497525)
and optionally by microfluidisation. Polysaccharides can be sized in order to reduce
viscosity in polysaccharide samples and/or to improve filterability for conjugated products.
Oligosaccharides have a low number of repeat units (typically 5-30 repeat units) and are
typically hydrolysed polysaccharides
Capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneutnoniae comprise repeating
oligosaccharide units which may contain up to 8 sugar residues. For a review of the
oligosaccharide units for the key Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes see JONES,
Christopher. Vaccines based on the cell surface carbohydrates of pathogenic
bacteria. An. Acad. Bras. Cienc, June 2005, vol.77, no.2, p.293-324. ISSN 0001-3765.
In one embodiment, a capsular saccharide antigen may be a full length polysaccharide,
however in others it may be one oligosaccharide unit, or a shorter than native length
saccharide chain of repeating oligosaccharide units. In one embodiment, all of the
saccharides present in the vaccine are polysaccharides. Full length polysaccharides may
be "sized" i.e. their size may be reduced by various methods such as acid hydrolysis
treatment, hydrogen peroxide treatment, sizing by emulsiflex® followed by a hydrogen
peroxide treatment to generate oligosaccharide fragments or microfluidization.
The inventors have also noted that the focus of the art has been to use oligosaccharides
for ease of conjugate production. The inventors have found that by using native or slightly
sized polysaccharide conjugates, one or more of the following advantages may be
realised: 1) a conjugate having high immunogenicity which is filterable, 2) the ratio of
polysaccharide to protein in the conjugate can be altered such that the ratio of
polysaccharide to protein (w/w) in the conjugate may be increased (which can have an
effect on the carrier suppression effect), 3) immunogenic conjugates prone to hydrolysis
may be stabilised by the use of larger saccharides for conjugation. The use of larger
polysaccharides can result in more cross-linking with the conjugate carrier and may
lessen the liberation of free saccharide from the conjugate. The conjugate vaccines
described in the prior art tend to depolymerise the polysaccharides prior to conjugation in

order to improve conjugation. The present inventors have found that saccharide conjugate
vaccines retaining a larger size of saccharide can provide a good immune response
against pneumococcal disease.
The immunogenic composition of the invention may thus comprise one or more
saccharide conjugates wherein the average size (weight-average molecular weight; Mw)
of each saccharide before conjugation is above 80kDa, 100kDa, 200kDa, 300kDa,
400kDa, 500kDa or 1000kDa. In one embodiment the conjugate post conjugation should
be readily filterable through a 0.2 micron filter such that a yield of more than 50, 60, 70,
80, 90 or 95% is obtained post filtration compared with the pre filtration sample.
For the purposes of the invention, "native polysaccharide" refers to a saccharide that has
not been subjected to a process, the purpose of which is to reduce the size of the
saccharide. A polysaccharide can become slightly reduced in size during normal
purification procedures. Such a saccharide is still native. Only if the polysaccharide has
been subjected to sizing techniques would the polysaccharide not be considered native.
For the purposes of the invention, "sized by a factor up to x2" means that the saccharide
is subject to a process intended to reduce the size of the saccharide but to retain a size
more than half the size of the native polysaccharide. X3, x4 etc. are to be interpreted in
the same way i.e. the saccharide is subject to a process intended to reduce the size of the
polysaccharide but to retain a size more than a third, a quarter etc. the size of the native
polysaccharide.
In an aspect of the invention, the immunogenic composition comprises Streptococcus
pneumoniae saccharides from at least 10 serotypes conjugated to a carrier protein,
wherein at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or each S. pneumoniae saccharide is native
polysaccharide.
In an aspect of the invention, the immunogenic composition comprises Streptococcus
pneumoniae saccharides from at least 10 serotypes conjugated to a carrier protein,
wherein at least 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or each S. pneumoniae saccharide is sized by a
factor up to x2, x3, x4, x5, x6, x7,.x8,.x9 or x10. In one embodiment of this aspect, the
majority of the saccharides, for example 6, 7, 8 or more of the saccharides are sized by a
factor up to x2, x3, x4, x5, x6, x7, x8, x9 or x 10.

The molecular weight or average molecular weight of a saccharide herein refers to the
weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the saccharide measured prior to conjugation
and is measured by MALLS.
The MALLS technique is well known in the art and is typically carried out as described in
example 2. For MALLS analysis of pneumococcal saccharides, two columns (TSKG6000
and 5000PWxI) may be used in combination and the saccharides are eluted in water.
Saccharides are detected using a light scattering detector (for instance Wyatt Dawn DSP
equipped with a 10mW argon laser at 488nm) and an inferometric refractometer (for
instance Wyatt Otilab DSP equipped with a P100 cell and a red filter at 498nm).
In an embodiment the S. pneumoniae saccharides are native polysaccharides or native
polysaccharides which have been reduced in size during a normal extraction process.
In an embodiment, the S. pneumoniae saccharides are sized by mechanical cleavage, for
instance by microfluidisation or sonication. Microfluidisation and sonication have the
advantage of decreasing the size of the larger native polysaccharides sufficiently to
provide a filterable conjugate. Sizing is by a factor of no more than x20, x10, x8, x6, x5,
x4, x3 or x2.
In an embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises S. pneumoniae conjugates
that are made from a mixture of native polysaccharides and saccharides that are sized by
a factor of no more than x20. In one aspect of this embodiment, the majority of the
saccharides, for example 6, 7, 8 or more of the saccharides are sized by a factor of up to
x2, x3, x4, x5 or x6.
In an embodiment, (he Streptococcus pneumoniae saccharide is conjugated to the carrier
protein via a linker, for instance a bifunctional linker. The linker is optionally
heterobifunctional or homobifunctional, having for example a reactive amino group and a
reactive carboxylic acid group, 2 reactive amino groups or two reactive carboxylic acid
groups. The linker has for example between 4 and 20, 4 and 12, 5 and 10 carbon atoms.
A possible linker is ADH. Other linkers include B-propionamido (WO 00/10599),
nitrophenyl-ethylamine (Gever et al (1979) Med. Microbiol. Immunol. 165; 171-288).
haloalkyl halides (US4057685). glycosidic linkages (US4673574, US4808700), hexane

diamine and 6-aminocaproic acid (US4459286). In an embodiment, ADH is used as a
linker for conjugating saccharide from serotype 18C.
The saccharide conjugates present in the immunogenic compositions of the invention may
be prepared by any known coupling technique. The conjugation method may rely on
activation of the saccharide with 1-cyano-4-dimethylamino pyridinium tetrafluoroborate
(CDAP) to form a cyanate ester. The activated saccharide may thus be coupled directly
or via a spacer (linker) group to an amino group on the carrier protein. For example, the
spacer could be cystamine or cysteamine to give a thiolated polysaccharide which could
be coupled to the carrier via a thioether linkage obtained after reaction with a maleimide-
activated carrier protein (for example using GMBS) or a haioacetyiated carrier protein (for
example using iodoacetimide [e.g. ethyl iodoacetimide HCI] or N-succinimidyl
bromoacetate or SIAB, or SIA, or SBAP). Optionally, the cyanate ester (optionally made
by CDAP chemistry) is coupled with hexane diamine or ADH and the amino-derivatised
saccharide is conjugated to the carrier protein using carbodiimide (e.g. EDAC or EDC)
chemistry via a carboxyl group on the protein carrier. Such conjugates are described in
PCT published application WO 93/15760 Uniformed Services University and WO
95/08348 and WO 96/29094
Other suitable techniques use carbodiimides, carbiinides, hydrazides, active esters,
norborane, p-nitrobenzoic acid, N-hydroxysuccinimide, S-NHS, EDC, TSTU. Many are
described in WO 98/42721. Conjugation may involve a carbonyl linker which may be
formed by reaction of a free hydroxyl group of the saccharide with CDI (Bethell et al J.
Biol. Chem. 1979, 254; 2572-4, Hearn et al J. Chromatogr. 1981. 218; 509-18) followed
by reaction of with a protein to form a carbamate linkage. This may involve reduction of
the anomeric terminus to a primary hydroxyl group, optional protection/deprotection of the
primary hydroxyl group' reaction of the primary hydroxyl group with CDI to form a CDI
carbamate intermediate and coupling the CDI carbamate intermediate with an amino
group on a protein.
The conjugates can also be prepared by direct reductive amination methods as described
in US 4365170 (Jennings) and US 4673574 (Anderson). Other methods are described in
EP-0-161-188, EP-208375 and EP-0-477508.

A further method involves the coupling of a cyanogen bromide (or CDAP) activated
saccharide derivatised with adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) to the protein carrier by
Carbodiimide condensation (Chu C. et al Infect. Immunity, 1983 245 256), for example
using EDAC.
In an embodiment, a hydroxyl group (optionally an activated hydroxyl group for example a
hydroxyl group activated to make a cyanate ester [e.g. using CDAP]) on a saccharide is
linked to an amino or carboxylic group on a protein either directly or indirectly (through a
linker). Where a linker is present, a hydroxyl group on a saccharide is optionally linked to
an amino group on a linker, for example by using CDAP conjugation. A further amino
group in the linker for example ADH) may be conjugated to a carboxylic acid group on a
protein, for example by using carbodiimide chemistry, for example by using EDAC. In an
embodiment, the pneumococcal capsular saccharide(s) is conjugated to the linker first
before the linker is conjugated to the carrier protein. Alternatively the linker may be
conjugated to the carrier before conjugation to the saccharide.
A combination of techniques may also be used, with some saccharide-protein conjugates
being prepared by CDAP, and some by reductive amination.
In general the following types of chemical groups on a protein carrier can be used for
coupling / conjugation:
A) Carboxyl (for instance via aspartic acid or glutamic acid). In one embodiment this group
is linked to amino groups on saccharides directly or to an amino group on a linker with
carbodiimide chemistry e.g. with EDAC.
B) Amino group (for instance via lysine). In one embodiment this group is linked to
carboxyl groups on saccharides directly or to a carboxyl group on a linker with
carbodiimide chemistry e.g. with EDAC. In another embodiment this group is linked to
hydroxyl groups activated with CDAP or CNBr on saccharides directly or to such groups
on a linker; to saccharides or linkers having an aldehyde group; to saccharides or linkers
having a succinimide ester group.

C) Sulphydryl (for instance via cysteine). In one embodiment this group is linked to a
bromo or chloro acetylated saccharide or linker with maleimide chemistry. In one
embodiment this group is activated/modified with bis diazobenzidine.
D) Hydroxyl group (for instance via tyrosine). In one embodiment this group is
activated/modified with bis diazobenzidine.
E) Imidazolyl group (for instance via histidine). In one embodiment this group is
activated/modified with bis diazobenzidine.
F) Guanidyl group (for instance via arginine).
G) Indolyl group (for instance via tryptophan).
On a saccharide, in general the following groups can be used for a coupling: OH, COOH
or NH2. Aldehyde groups can be generated after different treatments known in the art
such as: periodate, acid hydrolysis, hydrogen peroxide, etc.
Direct coupling approaches:
Saccharide-OH + CNBr or CDAP —> cyanate ester + NH2-Prot —> conjugate
Saccharide-aldehyde + NH2-Prot —> Schiff base + NaCNBH3 —> conjugate
Saccharide-COOH + NH2-Prot + EDAC —> conjugate
Saccharide-NH2 + COOH-Prot + EDAC —> conjugate
Indirect coupling via spacer (linker) approaches:
Saccharide-OH + CNBr or CDAP —> cyanate ester + NH2—NH2 —> saccharide—
NH2 + COOH-Prot + EDAC —> conjugate
Saccharide-OH + CNBr or CDAP —> cyanate ester + NH2—SH —> saccharide—SH
+ SH-Prot (native Protein with an exposed cysteine or obtained after modification of
amino groups of the protein by SPDP for instance) —> saccharide-S-S-Prot

Saccharide-OH + CNBr or CDAP —> cyanate ester + NH2—SH > saccharide—SH
+ maleimide-Prot (modification of amino groups) —> conjugate
Saccharide-OH + CNBr or CDAP — > cyanate ester + NH2—SH --> Saccharide-SH +
haloacetylated-Prot —> Conjugate
Saccharide-COOH + EDAC + NH2 NH2 — > saccharide NH2 + EDAC + COOH-
Prot —> conjugate
Saccharide-COOH + EDAC+ NH2—SH —> saccharide—SH + SH-Prot (native
Protein with an exposed cysteine or obtained after modification of amino groups of the
protein by SPDP for instance) —> saccharide-S-S-Prot
Saccharide-COOH + EDAC+ NH2—SH > saccharide—SH + maleimide-Prot
(modification of amino groups) —> conjugate
Saccharide-COOH + EDAC + NH2—SH —> Saccharide-SH + haloacetylated-Prot —>
Conjugate
Saccharide-Aldehyde + NH2—NH2 —> saccharide-~NH2 + EDAC + COOH-Prot —>
conjugate
Note: instead of EDAC above, any suitable carbodiimide may be used.
In summary, the types of protein carrier chemical group that may be generally used for
coupling with a saccharide are amino groups (for instance on lysine residues), COOH
groups (for instance on aspartic and glutamic acid residues) and SH groups (if accessible)
(for instance on cysteine residues.
Optionally the ratio of carrier protein to S. pneumoniae saccharide is between 1:5 and 5:1;
1:2 and 2.5:1; 1:1 and 2:1 (w/w). In an embodiment, the majority of the conjugates, for
example 6, 7, 8, 9 or more of the conjugates have a ratio of carrier protein to saccharide
that is greater than 1:1, for example 1.1:1, 1.2:1, 1.3:1, 1.4:1, 1.5:1 or 1.6:1.

In an embodiment, at least one S. pneumoniae saccharide is conjugated to a carrier
protein via a linker using CDAP and EDAC. For example, 18C may be conjugated to a
protein via a linker (for example those with two hydrazino groups at its ends such as ADH)
using CDAP and EDAC as described above. When a linker is used, CDAP may be used
to conjugate the saccharide to a linker and EDAC may then be used to conjugate the
linker to a protein or, alternatively EDAC may be used first to conjugate the linker to the
protein, after which CDAP may be used to conjugate the linker to the saccharide.
In general, the immunogenic composition of the invention may comprise a dose of each
saccharide conjugate between 0,1 and 20g, 1 and 10g or 1 and 3g of saccharide.
In an embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the invention contains each S.
pneumoniae capsular saccharide at a dose of between 0.1-20g; 0.5-10g; 0,5- 5g or 1-
3g of saccharide. In an embodiment, capsular saccharides may be present at different
dosages, for example some capsular saccharides may be present at a dose of exactly
1g or some capsular saccharides may be present at a dose of exactly 3g. In an
embodiment, saccharides from serotypes 3, 18C and 19F (or 4, 18C and 19F) are
present at a higher dose than other saccharides. In one aspect of this embodiment,
serotypes 3,18C and 19F (or 4, 18C and 19F) are present at a dose of around or exactly
3 g whilst other saccharides in the immunogenic composition are present at a dose of
around or exactly 1g.
"Around" or "approximately" are defined as within 10% more or less of the given figure for
the purposes of the invention.
In an embodiment, at least one of the S. pneumoniae capsular saccharides is directly
conjugated to a carrier protein. Optionally the at least one of the S. pneumoniae capsular
saccharides is directly conjugated by CDAP. In an embodiment, the majority of the
capsular saccharides for example 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or more are directly linked to the carrier
protein by CDAP (see WO 95/08348 and WO 96/29094)
The immunogenic composition may comprise Streptococcus pneumoniae proteins, herein
termed Streptococcus pneumoniae proteins of the invention. Such proteins may be used
as carrier proteins, or may be present as free proteins, or may be present both as carrier
proteins and as free proteins. The Streptococcus pneumoniae proteins of the invention

are either surface exposed, at least during part of the life cycle of the pneumococcus, or
are proteins which are secreted or released by the pneumococcus. Optionally the
proteins of the invention are selected from the following categories, such as proteins
having a Type II Signal sequence motif of LXXC (where X is any amino acid, e.g., the
polyhistidine triad family (PhtX)), choline binding proteins (CbpX), proteins having a Type I
Signal sequence motif (e.g., Sp101), proteins having a LPXTG motif (where X is any
amino acid, e.g., Sp128, Sp130), and toxins (e.g., Ply). Examples within these categories
(or motifs) are the following proteins, or immunologically functional equivalents thereof.
In one embodiment, the immtinogenic composition of the invention comprises at least 1
protein selected from the group consisting of the Poly Histidine Triad family (PhtX),
Choline Binding Protein family (CbpX), CbpX truncates. LytX family, LytX truncates, CbpX
truncate-LytX truncate chimeric proteins (or fusions), pneumolysin (Ply), PspA, PsaA,
Sp128, Sp101, Sp130, Sp125 and Sp133. In a further embodiment, the immunogenic
composition comprises 2 or more proteins selected from the group consisting of the Poly
Histidine Triad family (PhtX), Choline Binding Protein family (CbpX), CbpX truncates, LytX
family, LytX truncates, CbpX truncate-LytX truncate chimeric proteins (or fusions),
pneumolysin (Ply), PspA, PsaA, and Sp128. In one more embodiment, the immunogenic
composition comprises 2 or more proteins selected from the group consisting of the Poly
Histidine Triad family (PhtX), Choline Binding Protein family (CbpX), CbpX truncates, LytX
family, LytX truncates, CbpX truncate-LytX truncate chimeric proteins (or fusions),
pneumolysin (Ply), and Sp128.
The Pht (Poly Histidine Triad) family comprises proteins PhtA, PhtB, PhtD, and PhtE. The
family is characterized by a lipidation sequence, two domains separated by a proline-rich
region and several histidine triads, possibly involved in metal or nucleoside binding or
enzymatic activity, (3-5) coiled-coil regions, a conserved N-terminus and a heterogeneous
C terminus. It is present in all strains of pneumococci tested. Homologous proteins have
also been found in other Streptococci and Neisseria. In one embodiment of the invention,
the Pht protein of the invention is PhtD. It is understood, however, that the terms Pht A,
B, D, and E refer to proteins having sequences disclosed in the citations below as well as
naturally-occurring (and man-made) variants thereof that have a sequence homology that
is at least 90% identical to the referenced proteins. Optionally it is at least 95% identical
or at least 97% identical.

With regards to the PhtX proteins, PhtA is disclosed in WO 98/18930, and is also referred
to Sp36. As noted above, it is a protein from the polyhistidine triad family and has the type
II signal motif of LXXC. PhtD is disclosed in WO 00/37105, and is also referred to
SpO36D. As noted above, it also is a protein from the polyhistidine triad family and has
the type II LXXC signal motif. PhtB is disclosed in WO 00/37105, and is also referred to
SpO36B. Another member of the PhtB family is the C3-Degrading Polypeptide, as
disclosed in WO 00/17370. This protein also is from the polyhistidine triad family and has
the type II LXXC signal motif. For example, an immunologically functional equivalent is
the protein Sp42 disclosed in WO 98/18930. A PhtB truncate (approximately 79kD) is
disclosed in WO99/15675 which is also considered a member of the PhtX family. PhtE is
disclosed in WO00/30299 and is referred to as BVH-3. Where any Pht protein is referred
to herein, it is meant that immunogenic fragments or fusions thereof of the Pht protein can
be used. For example, a reference to PhtX includes immunogenic fragments or fusions
thereof from any Pht protein. A reference to PhtD or PhtB is also a reference to PhtDE
or PhtBE fusions as found, for example, in WO0198334.
Pneumolysin is a multifunctional toxin with a distinct cytolytic (hemolytic) and complement
activation activities (Rubins et al., Am . Respi. Cit Care Med, 153:1339-1346 (1996)). The
toxin is not secreted by pneumococci, but it is released upon lysis of pneumococci under
the influence of autolysin. Its effects include e.g., the stimulation of the production of
inflammatory cytokines by human monocytes, the inhibition of the beating of cilia on
human respiratory epithelial, and the decrease of bactericidal activity and migration of
neutrophils. The most obvious effect of pneumolysin is in the lysis of red blood cells,
which involves binding to cholesterol. Because it is a toxin, it needs to be detoxified (i.e.,
non-toxic to a human when provided at a dosage suitable for protection) before it can be
administered in vivo. Expression and cloning of wild-type or native pneumolysin is known
in the art. See, for example, Walker et al. (Infect Immuri, 55:1184-1189 (1987)), Mitchell
et al. (Biochim Biophys Acta, 1007:67-72 (1989) and Mitchell et al (NAR, 18:4010 (1990)).
Detoxification of ply can be conducted by chemical means, e.g., subject to formalin or
glutaraldehyde treatment or a combination of both (WO 04081515, PCT/EP2005/010258).
Such methods are well known in the art for various toxins. Alternatively, ply can be
genetically detoxified. Thus, the invention encompasses derivatives of pneumococcal
proteins which may be, for example, mutated proteins. The term "mutated" is used herein
to mean a molecule which has undergone deletion, addition or substitution of one or more
amino acids using well known techniques for site directed mutagenesis or any other

conventional method. For example, as described above, a mutant ply protein may be
altered so that it is biologically inactive whilst still maintaining its immunogenic epitopes,
see, for example, WO90/06951, Berry et al. (Infect Immun, 67:981-985 (1999)) and
WO99/03884.
As used herein, it is understood that the term "Ply" refers to mutated or detoxified
pneumoiysin suitable for medical use (i.e., non toxic).
Concerning the Choline Binding Protein family (CbpX), members of that family were
originally identified as pneumococcal proteins that could be purified by choline-affininty
chromatography. Ail of the choline-binding proteins are non-covalently bound to
phosphorylcholine moieties of cell wall teichoic add and membrane-associated
lipoteichoic acid. Structurally, they have several regions in common over the entire family,
although the exact nature of the proteins (amino acid sequence, length, etc.) can vary. In
general, choline binding proteins comprise an N terminal region (N), conserved repeat
regions (R1 and/or R2), a proline rich region (P) and a conserved choline binding region
(C), made up of multiple repeats, that comprises approximately one half of the protein. As
used in this application, the term "Choline Binding Protein family (CbpX)" is selected from
the group consisting of Choline Binding Proteins as identified in WO97/41151, PbcA,
SpsA, PspC, CbpA, CbpD, and CbpG. CbpA is disclosed in WO97/41151. CbpD and
CbpG are disclosed in WO00/29434. - PspC is disclosed in WO97/09994. PbcA is
disclosed in WO98/21337.SpsA is a Choline binding protein disclosed in WO 98/39450.
Optionally the Choline Binding Proteins are selected from the group consisting of CbpA,
PbcA, SpsA and PspC.
An embodiment of the invention comprises CbpX truncates wherein "CbpX" is defined
above and "truncates" refers to CbpX proteins lacking 50% or more of the Choline binding
region (C). Optionally such proteins lack the entire choline binding region. Optionally, the
such protein truncates lack (i) the choline binding region and (ii) a portion of the N-
terminal half of the protein as well, yet retain at least one repeat region (R1 or R2).
Optionally, the truncate has 2 repeat regions (R1 and R2). Examples of such
embodiments are NR1xR2 and R1xR2 as illustrated in WO99/51266 or WO99/51188,
however, other choline binding proteins lacking a similar choline binding region are also
contemplated within the scope of this invention.

The LytX family is membrane associated proteins associated with cell lysis. The N-
terminal domain comprises choline binding domain(s), however the LytX family does not
have all the features found in the CbpA family noted above and thus for the present
invention, the LytX family is considered distinct from the CbpX family. In contrast with the
CbpX family, the C-terminal domain contains the catalytic domain of the LytX protein
family. The family comprises LytA, B and C. With regards to the LytX family, LytA is
disclosed in Ronda et a!., Eur J Biochem, 164:621-624 (1987). LytB is disclosed in WO
98/18930, and is also referred to as Sp46. LytC is also disclosed in WO 98/18930, and is
also referred to as Sp91. An embodiment of the invention comprises LytC.
Another embodiment comprises LytX truncates wherein "LytX" is defined above and
"truncates" refers to LytX proteins lacking 50% or more of the Choline binding region.
Optionally such proteins lack the entire choline binding region. Yet another embodiment
of this invention comprises CbpX truncate-LytX truncate chimeric proteins (or fusions).
Optionally this comprises NR1xR2 (or R1xR2) of CbpX and the C-terminal portion (Cterm,
i.e., lacking the choline binding domains) of LytX (e.g., LytCCterm or Sp91 Cterm).
Optionally CbpX is selected from the group consisting of CbpA, PbcA, SpsA and PspC.
Optionally, it is CbpA. Optionally, LytX is LytC (also referred to as Sp91). Another
embodiment of the present invention is a PspA or PsaA truncate lacking the choline
binding domain (C) and expressed as a fusion protein with LytX. Optionally, LytX is LytC.
With regards to PsaA and PspA, both are know in the art. For example, PsaA and
transmembrane deletion variants thereof have been described by Berry & Paton, Infect
Immun 1996 Dec;64(12):5255-62. PspA and transmembrane deletion variants thereof
have been disclosed in, for example, US 5804193, WO 92/14488, and WO 99/53940.
Sp128 and Sp130 are disclosed in WO00/76540. Sp125 is an example of a
pneumococcal surface protein with the Cell Wall Anchored motif of LPXTG (where X is
any amino acid). Any protein within this class of pneumococcal surface protein with this
motif has been found to be useful within the context of this invention, and is therefore
considered a further protein of the invention. Sp125 itself is disclosed in WO 98/18930,
and is also known as ZmpB - a zinc metalloprqteinase. Sp101 is disclosed in WO
98/06734 (where it has the reference # y85993). It is characterized by a Type I signal
sequence. Sp133 is disclosed in WO 98/06734 (where it has the reference # y85992). It
is also characterized by a Type I signal sequence.

Examples of Moraxella catarrhalis protein antigens which can be included in a
combination vaccine (especially for the prevention of otitis media) are: OMP106 [WO
97/41731 (Antex) & WO 96/34960 (PMC)]; OMP21 or fragments thereof (WO 0018910);
LbpA &/or LbpB [WO 98/55606 (PMC)]; TbpA &/or TbpB [WO 97/13785 & WO 97/32980
(PMC)]; CopB [Helminen ME, et aJ. (1993) Infect. Immun. 61:2003-2010]; UspA1 and/or
UspA2 [WO 93/03761 (University of Texas)]; OmpCD; HasR (PCT/EP99/03824); PilQ
(PCT/EP99/03823); OMP85 (PCT/EP00/01468); lipoOB (GB 9917977.2); Iipo10 (GB
9918208.1); Iipo11 (GB 9918302.2); Iipo18 (GB 9918038.2); P6 (PCT/EP99/03038); D15
(PCT/EP99/03822); OmplAI (PCT/EP99/06781); Hly3 (PCT/EP99/03257); and OmpE.
Examples of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae antigens or fragments thereof which
can be included in a combination vaccine (especially for the prevention of otitis media)
include: Fimbrin protein [(US 5766608 - Ohio State Research Foundation)] and fusions
comprising peptides therefrom [eg LB1(f) peptide fusions; US 5843464 (OSU) or WO
99/64067]; OMP26 [WO 97/01638 (Codecs)]; P6 [EP 281673 (State University of New
York)]; TbpA and/or TbpB; Hia; Hsf; Hin47; Hif; Hmw1; Hmw2; Hmw3; Hmw4; Hap; D15
(WO 94/12641); P2; and P5 (WO 94/26304).
The proteins of the invention may also be beneficially combined. By combined is meant
that the immunogenic composition comprises all of the proteins from within the following
combinations, either as carrier proteins or as free proteins or a mixture of the two. For
example, in a combination of two proteins as set out hereinafter, both proteins may be
used as carrier proteins, or both proteins may be present as free proteins, or both may be
present as carrier and as free protein, or one may be present as a carrier protein and a
free protein whilst the other is present only as a carrier protein or only as a free protein, or
one may be present as a earner protein and the other as a free protein. Where a
combination of three proteins is given, similar possibilities exist. Combinations include,
but are not limited to, PhtD + NR1xR2, PhtD + NR1xR2-Sp91Cterm chimeric or fusion
proteins, PhtD + Ply, PhtD + Sp128, PhtD + PsaA, PhtD + PspA, PhtA + NR1xR2, PhtA +
NR1xR2-Sp91Cterm chimeric or fusion proteins, PhtA + Ply, PhtA + Sp128, PhtA + PsaA,
PhtA + PspA, NR1xR2 + LytC, NR1xR2 + PspA, NR1xR2 + PsaA, NR1xR2 + Sp128,
R1xR2 + LytC. R1xR2 + PspA, R1xR2 + PsaA, R1xR2 + Sp128, R1xR2 + PhtD, R1xR2 +
PhtA. Optionally, NR1xR2 (or R1xR2) is from CbpA or PspC. Optionally it is from CbpA.
Other combinations include 3 protein combinations such as PhtD + NR1xR2 + Ply, and
PhtA + NR1xR2 + PhtD. In one embodiment, the vaccine composition comprises

detoxified pneumolysin and PhtD or PhtDE as carrier proteins. In a further embodiment,
the vaccine composition comprises detoxified pneumolysin and PhtD or PhtDE as free
proteins.
In an independent aspect, the present invention provides an immunogenic composition
comprising at least four S. pneumoniae capsular saccharide conjugates containing
saccharides from different S. pneumoniae serotypes wherein at least one saccharide is
conjugated to PhtD or fusion protein thereof and the immunogenic composition is capable
of eliciting an effective immune response against PhtD.
An effective immune response against PhtD or fusion protein thereof is measured for
example by a protection assay such as that described in example 15. An effective
immune response provides at least 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% survival 7 days
after challenge with a heterologous strain. Given that the challenge strain is heterologous,
the protection afforded is due to the immune response against PhtD or fusion protein
thereof.
Alternatively, an effective immune response against PhtD is measured by ELISA as
described in example 14. An effective immune response gives an anti-PhtD IgG response
of at least 250, 300, 350, 400, 500, 550 or 600 g/ml GMC.
For example, the immunogenic composition comprises at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10
S. pneumoniae capsular saccharides from different serotypes conjugated to PhtD or
fusion protein thereof. For example serotypes 22F and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 further selected
from serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19A,
19F, 20, 23F and 33F are conjugated to PhtD. In an embodiment two or three of
serotypes 3, 6A and 22F are conjugated to PhtD or fusion protein thereof.
In an embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the invention comprises at least one
S. pneumoniae capsular saccharide conjugated to PhtD or fusion protein thereof via a
linker, for example ADH. In an embodiment, one of the conjugation chemistries listed
below is used.
In an embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the invention comprises at least one
S. pneumoniae capsular saccharide conjugated to PhtD or fusion protein thereof, wherein
the ratio of PhtD to saccharide in the conjugate is between 6:1 and 1:5, 6:1 and 2:1, 6:1

and 2.5:1, 6:1 and 3:1, 6:1 and 3.5:1 (w/w) or is greater than (i.e. contains a larger
proportion of PhtD) 2.0:1, 2.5:1, 3.0:1, 3.5:1 or 4.0:1 (w/w).
In an embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the invention comprises pneumolysin.
The present invention further provides a vaccine containing the immunogenic
compositions of the invention and a pharmaceuticaily acceptable excipient.
The vaccines of the present invention may be adjuvanted, particularly when intended for
use in an elderly population but also for use in infant populations. Suitable adjuvants
include an aiuminum salt such as aluminum hydroxide gel or aluminum phosphate or
alum, but may also be other metal salts such as those of calcium, magnesium, iron or
zinc, or may be an insoluble suspension of acylatecl tyrosine, or acylated sugars,
cationically or anionically derivatized saccharides, or polyphosphazenes.
The adjuvant is optionally selected to be a preferential inducer of a TH1 type of response.
Such high levels of Th1-type cytokines tend to favour the induction of cell mediated
immune responses to a given antigen, whilst high levels of Th2-type cytokines tend to
favour the induction of humoral immune responses to the antigen.
The distinction of Th1 and Th2-type immune response is not absolute. In reality an
individual will support an immune response which is described as being predominantly
Th1 or predominantly Th2. However, it is often convenient to consider the families of
cytokines in terms of that described in murine CD4 +ve T cell clones by Mosmann and
Coffman (Mosmann, T.R. and Coffman, R.L. (1989) TH1 and TH2 cells: different patterns
of lymphokine secretion lead to different functional properties. (Annual Review of
Immunology, 7, p145-173). Traditionally, Th1-type responses are associated with the
production of the INF- and IL-2 cytokines by T-lymphocytes. Other cytokines often
directly associated with the induction of Th1-type immune responses are not produced by
T-cells, such as IL-12. In contrast, Th2-type responses are associated with the secretion
of II-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10. Suitable adjuvant systems which promote a predominantly Th1
response include: Monophosphoryl lipid A or a derivative thereof (or detoxified lipid A in
general - see for instance WO2005107798), particularly 3-de-O-acylated
monophosphoryl lipid A (3D-MPL) (for its preparation see GB 2220211 A); and a
combination of monophosphoryl lipid A, optionally 3-de-O-acylated monophosphoryl lipid

A, together with either an aluminum salt (for instance aluminum phosphate or aluminum
hydroxide) or an oil-in-water emulsion. In such combinations, antigen and 3D-MPL are
contained in the same particulate structures, allowing for more efficient delivery of
antigenic and immunostimulatory signals. Studies have shown that 3D-MPL is able to
further enhance the immunogenicity of an alum-adsorbed antigen [Thoelen et al. Vaccine
(1998) 16:708-14; EP 689454-B1].
An enhanced system involves the combination of a monophosphoryl lipid A and a saponin
derivative, particularly the combination of QS21 and 3D-MPL as disclosed in WO
94/00153, or a less reactogenic composition where the QS21 is quenched with
cholesterol as disclosed in WO 96/33739. A particularly potent adjuvant formulation
involving QS21, 3D-MPL and tocopherol in an oil in water emulsion is described in WO
95/17210. In one embodiment the immunogenic composition additionally comprises a
saponin, which may be QS21. The formulation may also comprise an oil in water emulsion
and tocopherol (WO 95/17210). Unmethylated CpG containing oligonucleotides (WO
96/02555) and other immunomodulatory oligonucleotides (WO0226757 and
WO03507822)are also preferential inducers of a TH1 response and are suitable for use in
the present invention.
Particular adjuvants are those selected from the group of metal Salts, oil in water
emulsions, Toll like receptors agonist, (in particular Toll like receptor 2 agonist, Toll like
receptor 3 agonist, Toll like receptor 4 agonist, Toll like receptor 7 agonist, Toll like
receptor 8 agonist and Toll like receptor 9 agonist), saponins or combinations thereof.
An adjuvant that can be used with the vaccine compositions of the invention are bleb or
outer membrane vesicle preparations from Gram negative bacterial strains such as those
taught by WO02/09746 - particularly N. meningitidis blebs. Adjuvant properties of blebs
can be improved by retaining LOS (lipooligosacccharide) on its surface (e.g. through
extraction with low concentrations of detergent [for instanct 0-0.1% deoxycholate]). LOS
can be detoxified through the msbB(-) or htrB(-) mutations discussed in WO02/09746.
Adjuvant properties can also be improved by retaining PorB (and optionally removing
PorA) from meningococcal blebs. Adjuvant properties can also be improved by truncating
the outer core saccharide structure of LOS on meningococcal blebs - for instance via the
IgtB(-) mutation discussed in WO2004/014417. Alternatively, the aforementioned LOS

(e.g. isolated from a msbB(-) and/or IgtB(-) strain) can be purified and used as an adjuvant
in the compositions of the invention.
A further adjuvant which may be used with the compositions of the invention may be
selected from the group: a saponin, lipid A or a derivative thereof, an immunostimulatory
oligonucleotide, an alkyl glucosaminide phosphate, an oil in water emulsion or
combinations thereof. A further adjuvant which may be used with the compositions fo the
invention is a metal salt in combination with another adjuvant. In an embodiment, the
adjuvant is a Toll like receptor agonist in particular an agonist of a Toll like receptor 2, 3,
4, 7, 8 or 9, or a saponin, in particular Qs21. In an embodiment, the adjuvant system
comprises two or more adjuvants from the above list. In particular the combinations
optionally contain a saponin (in particular Qs21) adjuvant and/or a Toll like receptor 9
agonist such as a CpG containing immunostimulatory oligonucleotide. Other combinations
comprise a saponin (in particular QS21) and a Toll like receptor 4 agonist such as
monophosphory) lipid A or its 3 deacylated derivative, 3 D- MPL, or a saponin (in
particular QS21) and a Toll like receptor 4 ligand such as an alkyl glucosaminide
phosphate.
In an embodiment, adjuvants are combinations of 3D-MPL and QS21 (EP 0 671 948 B1),
oil in water emulsions comprising 3D-MPL and QS21 (WO 95/17210, WO 98/56414), or
3D-MPL formulated with other carriers (EP 0 689 454 B1). In an embodiment, adjuvant
systems comprise a combination of 3 D MPL , QS21 and a CpG oligonucleotide as
described in US6558670, US6544518.
In an embodiment the adjuvant is a Toll like receptor (TLR) 4 ligand, optionally an agonist
such as a lipid A derivative particularly monophosphoryl lipid A or more particularly 3
Deacylated monophoshoryl lipid A (3 D - MPL).
3 D -MPL is available from GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals North America and primarily
promotes CD4+ T cell responses with an IFN-g (Th1) phenotype . It can be produced
according to the methods disclosed in GB 2 220 211 A. Chemically it is a mixture of 3-
deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A with 3, 4, 5 or 6 acylated chains. In an embodiment,
the compositions of the present invention small particle 3 D- MPL is used. Small particle
3 D -MPL has a particle size such that it may be sterile-filtered through a 0.22^im filter.
Such preparations are described in International Patent Application No. WO 94/21292.

Synthetic derivatives of lipid A are known and thought to be TLR 4 agonists including, but
not limited to:
OM174 (2-deoxy-6-o-[2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-dodecanoyloxytetra-decanoylamino]-4-o-
phosphono-(3-D-glucopyranosyl]-2-[(R)-3-hydroxytetradec^noytamino]-a-D-
glucopyranosyldihydrogenphosphate), (WO 95/14026)
OM 294 DP (3S, 9 R) -3-[(R)-dodecanoy1oxytetradecanoylamino]-4-oxo-5-aza-9(R)-[(R)-
3-hydroxytetradecanoylamino]decan-1,10-diol,1,10-bis(dihydrogenophosphate) (WO99
/64301 and WO 00/0462 )
OM 197 MP-Ac DP ( 3S-, 9R) -3-[(R) -dodecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]-4-oxo-5-aza-9-
[(R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoylamino]decan-1,10-diol,1 -dihydrogenophosphate 10-(6-
aminohexanoate) (WO 01/46127)
Other TLR4 ligands which may be used are alkyl Glucosaminide phosphates (AGPs) such
as those disclosed in WO9850399 or US6303347 (processes for preparation of AGPs are
also disclosed), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of AGPs as disclosed in
US6764840. Some AGPs are TLR4 agonists, and some are TLR4 antagonists. Both are
thought to be useful as adjuvants.
Another immunostimulant for use in the present invention is Quil A and its derivatives.
Quil A is a saponin preparation isolated from the South American tree Quilaja Saponaria
Molina and was first described as having adjuvant activity by Dalsgaard et al. in 1974
("Saponin adjuvants", Archiv. fur die gesamte Virusforschung, Vol. 44, Springer Verlag,
Berlin, p243-254). Purified fragments of Quil A have been isolated by HPLC which retain
adjuvant activity without the toxicity associated with Quill A (EP 0 362 278), for example
QS7 and QS21 (also known as QA7 and QA21). QS-21 is a natural saponin derived from
the bark of Quillaja saponaria Molina which induces CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), Th1
cells and a predominant lgG2a antibody response and is a saponin in the context of the
present invention.
Particular formulations of QS21 have been described which are an embodiment fo the
invention, these formulations further comprise a sterol (WO96/33739). The saponins
forming part of the present invention may be separate in the form of micelles, mixed

micelles (optionally with bile salts) or may be in the form of ISCOM matrices (EP 0 109
942 B1) , liposomes or related colloidal structures such as worm-like or ring-like
multimeric complexes or lipidic/layered structures and lamellae when formulated with
cholesterol and lipid, or in the form of an oil in water emulsion (for example as in WO
95/17210). The saponins may be associated with a metallic salt, such as aluminium
hydroxide or aluminium phosphate (WO 98/15287).
Optionally, the saponin is presented in the form of a liposome, iSCOM or an oil in water
emulsion.
An enhanced system involves the combination of a monophosphoryl lipid A (or detoxified
lipid A) and a saponin derivative, particularly the combination of QS21 and 3D-MPL as
disclosed in WO 94/00153, or a less reactogenic composition where the QS21 is
quenched with cholesterol as disclosed in WO 96/33739. A particularly potent adjuvant
formulation involving tocopherol with or without QS21 and/or 3D-MPL in an oil in water
emulsion is described in WO 95/17210. In one embodiment the immunogenic
composition additionally comprises a saponin, which may be QS21.
Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides or any other Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 agonist may
also be used. The oligonucleotides for use in adjuvants or vaccines of the present
invention are optionally CpG containing oligonucleotides, optionally containing two or
more dinucleotide CpG motifs separated by at least three, optionally at least six or more
nucleotides. A CpG motif is a Cytosine nucleotide followed by a Guanine nucleotide. The
CpG oligonucleotides of the present invention are typically deoxynucleotides. In an
embodiment the intemucleotide in the oligonucleotide is phosphorodithioate, or a
phosphorothioate bond, although phosphodiester and other intemucleotide bonds are
within the scope of the invention. Also included within the scope of the invention are
oligonucleotides with mixed intemucleotide linkages. Methods for producing
phosphorothioate oligonucleotides or phosphorodithioate are described in US5,666,153,
US5.278.302 and WO95/26204.
Examples of oligonucleotides have the following sequences. The sequences optionally
contain phosphorothioate modified intemucleotide linkages.
OLIGO 1(SEQ ID NO:1): TCC ATG ACG TTC CTG ACG TT (CpG 1826)
OLIGO 2 (SEQ ID NO:2): TCT CCC AGC GTG CGC CAT (CpG 1758)
OLIGO 3(SEQ ID NO:3); ACC GAT GAC GTC GCC GGT GAC GGC ACC ACG

OLIGO 4 (SEQ ID NO:4): TCG TCG TTT TGT CGT TTT GTC GTT (CpG 2006)
OLIGO 5 (SEQ ID NO:5): TCC ATG ACG TTC CTG ATG CT (CpG 1668)
OLIGO 6 (SEQ ID NO:6): TCG ACG TTT TCG GCG CGC GCC G (CpG 5456)
Alternative CpG oligonucleotides may comprise the sequences above in that they have
inconsequential deletions or additions thereto.
The CpG oligonudeotides utilised in the present invention may be synthesized by any
method known in the art (for example see EP 468520). Conveniently, such
oligonudeotides may be synthesized utilising an automated synthesizer.
The adjuvant may be an oil in water emulsion or may comprise an oil in water emulsion in
combination with other adjuvants. The oil phase of the emulsion system optionally
comprises a metabolisable oil. The meaning of the term imetabolisable oil is well known in
the art. Metabolisable can be defined as "being capable of being transformed by
metabolism" (Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, W.B. Sanders Company, 25th
edition (1974)). The oil may be any vegetable oil, fish, oil, animal or synthetic oil, which is
not toxic to the recipient and is capable of being transformed by metabolism. Nuts, seeds,
and grains are common sources of vegetable oils. Synthetic oils are also part of this
invention and can include commercially available oils such as NEOBEE® and others.
Squalene (2,6,10,15,19, 23-Hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene) is an .
unsaturated oil which is found in large quantities in shark-liver oil, and in lower quantities
in olive oil, wheat germ oil, rice bran oil, and yeast, and is an oil for use in this invention.
Squalene is a metabolisable oil by virtue of the fact that it is an intermediate in the
biosynthesis of cholesterol (Merck index, 10th Edition, entry no.8619).
Tocols (e.g. vitamin E) are also often used in oil emulsions adjuvants (EP 0 382 271 B1;
US5667784; WO 95/17210). Tocols used in the oil emulsions (optionally oil in water
emulsions) of the invention may be formulated as described in EP 0 382 271 B1, in that
the tocols may be dispersions of tocol droplets, optionally comprising an emulsifier, of
optionally less than 1 micron in diameter. Alternatively, the tocols may be used in
combination with another oil, to form the oil phase of an oil emulsion. Examples of oil
emulsions which may be used in combination with the tocol are described herein, such as
the metabolisable oils described above.

Oil in water emulsion adjuvants per se have been suggested to be useful as adjuvant
compositions (EP 0 399 843B), also combinations of oil in water emulsions and other
active agents have been described as adjuvants for vaccines (WO 95/17210; WO
98/56414; WO 99/12565; WO 99/11241). Other oil emulsion adjuvants have been
described, such as water in oil emulsions (US 5,422,109;EP 0 480 982 B2) and water in
oil In water emulsions (US 5,424,067;EP 0 480 981 B). All of which form oil emulsion
systems (in particular when incorporating tocols) to form adjuvants and compositions of
the present invention.
In an embodiment, the oil emulsion (for instance oil in water emulsions) further comprises
an emulsifier such as TWEEN 80 and/or a sterol such as cholesterol.
In an embodiment, the oil emulsion (optionally oil-in-water emulsion) comprises a
metabolisible, non-toxic oil, such as squalane, squalene or a tocopherol such as alpha
tocopherol (and optionally both squalene and alpha tocopherol) and optionally an
emulsifier (or surfactant) such as Tween 80. A sterol (e.g. cholesterol) may also be
included.
The method of producing oil in water emulsions is well known to the man skilled in the art.
Commonly, the method comprises mixing the tocol-containing oil phase with a surfactant
such as a PBS/TWEEN80™ solution, followed by homogenisation using a homogenizer, it
would be clear to a man skilled in the art that a method comprising passing the mixture
twice through a syringe needle would be suitable for homogenising small volumes of
liquid. Equally, the emulsification process in microfluidiser (M110S Microfluidics machine,
maximum of 50 passes, for a period of 2 minutes at maximum pressure input of 6 bar
(output pressure of about 850 bar)) could be adapted by the man skilled in the art to
produce smaller or larger volumes of emulsion. The adaptation could be achieved by
routine experimentation comprising the measurement of the resultant emulsion until a
preparation was achieved with oil droplets of the required diameter.
In an oil in water emulsion, the oil and emulsifier should be in an aqueous carrier. The
aqueous carrier may be, for example, phosphate buffered saline.
The size of the oil droplets found within the stable oil in water emulsion are
optionally less than 1 micron, may be in the range of substantially 30-600nm, optionally
substantially around 30-500nm in diameter, and optionally substantially 150-500nm in
diameter, and in particular about 150 nm in diameter as measured by photon correlation
spectroscopy. In this regard, 80% of the oil droplets by number should be within the

ranges, optionally more than 90% and optionally more than 95% of the oil droplets by
number are within the defined size ranges. The amounts of the components present in the
oil emulsions of the present invention are conventionally in the range of from 0.5-20% or 2
to 10% oil (of the total dose volume), such as squalene; and when present, from 2 to 10%
alpha tocopherol; and from 0.3 to 3% surfactant, such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan
monooleate. Optionally the ratio of oil (e.g. squalene): tocol (e.g. a-tocopherol) is equal or
less than 1 as this provides a more stable emulsion. An emulsifier, such as Tween80 or
Span 85 may also be present at a level of about 1%. In some cases it may be
advantageous that the vaccines of the present invention will further contain a stabiliser.
Examples of emulsion systems are described in WO 95/17210, WO 99/11241 and WO
99/12565 which disclose emulsion adjuvants based on squalene, a-tocopherol, and
TWEEN 80, optionally formulated with the immunostimulants QS21 and/or 3D-MPL.
Thus in an embodiment of the present invention, the adjuvant of the invention may
additionally comprise further immunostimulants, such as LPS or derivatives thereof,
and/or saponins. Examples of further immunostimulants are described herein and in
"Vaccine Design - The Subunit and Adjuvant Approach" 1995, Pharmaceutical
Biotechnology, Volume 6, Eds. Powell, M.F., and Newman, M.J., Plenum Press, New
York and London, ISBN 0-306-44867-X.
In an embodiment, the adjuvant and immunogenic compositions according to the
invention comprise a saponin (e.g. QS21) and/or an LPS derivative (e.g. 3D-MPL) in an
oil emulsion described above, optionally with a sterol (e.g. cholesterol). Additionally the
oil emulsion (optionally oil in water emulsion) may contain span 85 and/or lecithin and/or
tricaprylin. Adjuvants comprising an oil-in-water emulsion, a sterol and a saponin are
described in WO 99/12565.
Typically for human administration the saponin (e.g. QS21) and/or LPS derivative
(e.g. 3D-MPL) will be present in a human dose of immunogenic composition in the range
of 1g - 200g, such as 10-100g, or 10g - 50g per dose. Typically the oil emulsion
(optionally oil in water emulsion) will comprise from 2 to 10% metabolisible oil. Optionally
it will comprise from 2 to 10% squalene, from 2 to 10% alpha tocopherol and from 0.3 to
3% (optionally 0.4 - 2%) emulsifier (optionally tween 80 [polyoxyethylene sorbitan
monooleate]). Where both squalene and alpha tocopherol are present, optionally the
ratio of squalene: alpha tocopherol is equal to or less than 1 as this provides a more
stable emulsion. Span 85 (Sorbitan trioleate) may also be present at a level of 0.5 to 1%

in the emulsions used in the invention. In some cases it may be advantageous that the
immunogenic compositions and vaccines of the present invention will further contain a
stabiliser, for example other emulsifiers/surfactants, including caprylic acid (merck index
10th Edition, entry no. 1739), for example Tricaprylin.
Where squalene and a saponin (optionally QS21) are included, it is of benefit to
also include a sterol (optionally cholesterol) to the formulation as this allows a reduction in
the total level of oil in the emulsion. This leads to a reduced cost of manufacture,
improvement of the overall comfort of the vaccination, and also qualitative and
quantitative improvements of the resultant immune responses, such as improved IFN-
production. Accordingly, the adjuvant system of the present invention typically comprises
a ratio of metabolisable oil:saponin (w/w) in the range of 200:1 to 300:1, also the present
invention can be used in a "low oil" form the optional range of which is 1:1 to 200:1,
optionally 20:1 to 100:1, or substantially 48:1, this vaccine retains the beneficial adjuvant
properties of all of the components, with a much reduced reactogenicity profile.
Accordingly, some embodiments have a ratio of squalene:QS21 (w/w) in the range of 1:1
to 250:1, or 20:1 to 200:1, or 20:1 to 100:1, or substantially 48:1. Optionally a sterol (e.g.
cholesterol) is also included present at a ratio of saponin:sterol as described herein.
The emulsion systems of the present invention optionally have a small oil droplet
size in the sub-micron range. Optionally the oil droplet sizes will be in the range 120 to
750 nm, or from 120-600nm in diameter.
A particularly potent adjuvant formulation (for ultimate combination with AIP04 in
the immunogenic compositions of the invention) involves a saponin (e.g. QS21), an LPS
derivative (e.g. 3D-MPL) and an oil emulsion (e.g. squalene and alpha tocopherol in an oil
in water emulsion) as described in WO 95/17210 or in WO 99/12565 (in particular
adjuvant formulation 11 in Example 2, Table 1).
Examples of a TLR 2 agonist include peptidoglycan or lipoprotein. Imidazoquinolines,
such as Imiquimod and Resiquimod are known TLR7 agonists. Single stranded RNA is
also a known TLR agonist (TLR8 in humans and TLR7 in mice), whereas double stranded
RNA and poly IC (polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid - a commercial synthetic mimetic of viral
RNA). are exemplary of TLR 3 agonists. 3D-MPL is an example of a TLR4 agonist whilst
CPG is an example of a TLR9 agonist.
The immunogenic composition may comprise an antigen and an immunostimulant
adsorbed onto a metal salt. Aluminium based vaccine formulations wherein the antigen

and the immunostimulant 3-de-O-acylated monophosphoryl lipid A (3D-MPL), are
adsorbed onto the same particle are described in EP 0 576 478 B1, EP 0 689 454 B1, and
EP 0 633 784 B1. In these cases then antigen is first adsorbed onto the aluminium salt
followed by the adsorption of the immunostimulant 3D-MPL onto the same aluminium salt
particles. Such processes first involve the suspension of 3D-MPL by sonication in a water
bath until the particles reach a size of between 80 and 500 nm. The antigen is typically
adsorbed onto aluminium salt for one hour at room temperature under agitation. The 3D-
MPL suspension is then added to the adsorbed antigen and the formulation is incubated
at room temperature for 1 hour, and then kept at 4oC until use.
In another process, the immunostimulant and the antigen are on separate metal particles,
as described in EP 1126876. The improved process comprises the adsorption of
immunostimulant, onto a metallic salt particle, followed by the adsorption of the antigen
onto another metallic salt particle, followed by the mixing of the discrete metallic particles
to form a vaccine. The adjuvant for use in the present invention may be an adjuvant
composition comprising an immunostimulant, adsorbed onto a metallic salt particle,
characterised in that the metallic salt particle is substantially free of other antigen.
Furthermore, vaccines are provided by the present invention and are characterised in that
the immunostimulant is adsorbed onto particles of metallic salt which are substantially free
from other antigen, and in that the particles of metallic salt which are adsorbed to the
antigen are substantially free of other immunostimulant.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an adjuvant formulation comprising
immunostimulant which has been adsorbed onto a particle of a metallic salt, characterised
in the composition is substantially free of other antigen. Moreover, this adjuvant
formulation can be an intermediate which, if such an adjuvant is used, is required for the
manufacture of a vaccine. Accordingly there is provided a process for the manufacture of
a vaccine comprising admixing an adjuvant composition which is one or more
immunostimulants adsorbed onto a metal particle with an antigen. Optionally, the antigen
has been pre-adsorbed onto a metallic salt. Said metallic salt may be identical or similar
to the metallic salt which is adsorbed onto the immunostimulant. Optionally the metal salt
is an aluminium salt, for example Aluminium phosphate or Aluminium hydroxide.
The present invention further provides for a vaccine composition comprising
immunostimulant adsorbed onto a first particle of a metallic salt, and antigen adsorbed
onto a metallic salt, characterised in that first and second particles of metallic salt are
separate particles.

LPS or LOS derivatives or mutations or lipid A derivatives described herein are designed
to be less toxic (e.g. 3D-MPL) than native lipopolysaccharides and are interchangeable
equivalents with respect to any uses of these moieties described herein.
In one embodiment the adjuvant used for the compositions of the invention comprises a
liposome carrier (made by known techniques from a phospholipids (such as dioleoyl
phosphatidyl choline [DOPC]) and optionally a sterol [such as cholesterol]). Such
liposome carriers may carry lipid A derivatives [such as 3D-MPL - see above] and/or
saponins (such as QS21 - see above). In one embodiment the adjuvant comprises (per
0.5 mL dose) 0.1-1 Omg, 0.2-7, 0.3-5,0.4-2, or 0.5-1 mg (e.g. 0.4-0.6, 0.9-1.1, 0.5 or 1 mg)
phospholipid (for instance DOPC), 0.025-2.5, 0.05-1.5, 0.075-0.75, 0.1-0.3. or 0.125-0.25
mg (e.g. 0.2-0.3, 0.1-0.15, 0.25 or 0.125 mg) sterol (for instance cholesterol), 5-60, 10-50,
or 20-30 ng (e.g. 5-15, 40-50, 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 ng) lipid A derivative (for instance 3D-
MPL), and 5-60, 10-50, or 20-30 pg (e.g. 5-15, 40-50, 10. 20, 30, 40 or 50 fig) saponin
(for instance QS21).
This adjuvant is particularly suitable for elderly vaccine formulations. In one embodiment
the vaccine composition comprising this adjuvant comprises saccharide conjugates
derived from at least all the following serotypes: 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F, 1, 5, 7F
(and may also comprise one or more from serotypes 3, 6A, 19A, and 22F), wherein the
GMC antibody titre induced against one or more (or all) the vaccine components 4, 6B,
9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F is not significantly inferior to that induced by the Prevnar®
vaccine in human vaccinees.
In one embodiment the adjuvant used for the compositions of the invention comprises an
oil in water emulsion made from a metabolisable oil (such as squalene), an emulsifier
(such as Tween 80) and optionally a tocol (such as alpha tocopherol). In one embodiment
the adjuvant comprises (per 0.5 mL dose) 0.5-15,1-13, 2-11,4-8, or 5-6mg (e.g. 2-3, 5-6,
or 10-11 mg) metabolisable oil (such as squalene), 0.1-110, 0.3-8, 0.6-6, 0.9-5, 1-4, or 2-3
mg (e.g. 0.9-1.1, 2-3 or 4-5 mg) emulsifier (such as Tween 80) and optionally 0.5-20, 1-
15, 2-12, 4-10, 5-7 mg (e.g. 11-13, 5-6, or 2-3 mg) tocol (such as alpha tocopherol).
This adjuvant may optionally further comprise 5-60, 10-50, or 20-30 ng (e.g. 5-15, 40-50,
10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 \ig) lipid A derivative (for instance 3D-MPL).

These adjuvants are particularly suitable for infant or elderly vaccine formulations. In one
embodiment the vaccine composition comprising this adjuvant comprises saccharide
conjugates derived from at least all the following serotypes: 4, 6B, 9V, 14,18C, 19F, 23F,
1, 5, 7F (and may also comprise one or more from serotypes 3, 6A, 19A, and 22F),
wherein the GMC antibody titre induced against one or more (or all) the vaccine
components 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F is not significantly inferior to that induced by
the Prevnar® vaccine in human vaccinees.
This adjuvant may optionally contain 0.025-2.5, 0.05-1.5, 0.075-0.75, 0.1-0.3, or 0.125-
0.25 mg (e.g. O.2-0.3, 0.1-0.15, 0.25 or 0.125 mg) sterol (for instance cholesterol), 5-60,
10-50, or 20-30 g (e.g. 5-15, 40-50, 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 g) lipid A derivative (for
instance 3D-MPL), and 5-60, 10-50, or 20-30 g (e.g. 5-15, 40-50, 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50
g) saponin (for instance QS21).
This adjuvant is particularly suitable for elderly vaccine formulations. In one embodiment
the vaccine composition comprising this adjuvant comprises saccharide conjugates
derived from at least all the following serotypes: 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F, 1, 5, 7F
(and may also comprise one or more from serotypes 3, 6A, 19A, and 22F), wherein the
GMC antibody titre induced against one or more (or all) the vaccine components 4.-6B,
9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F is not significantly inferior to that induced by the Prevnar®
vaccine in human vaccinees.
In one embodiment the adjuvant used for the compositions of the invention comprises
aluminium phosphate and a lipid A derivative (such as 3D-MPL). This adjuvant may
comprise (per 0.5 mL dose) 100-750, 200-500, or 300-400 g Al as aluminium phosphate,
and 5-60, 10-50, or 20-30 g (e.g. 5-15, 40-50, 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 g) lipid A derivative
(for instance 3D-MPL).
This adjuvant is particularly suitable for elderly or infant vaccine formulations. In one
embodiment the vaccine composition comprising this adjuvant comprises saccharide
conjugates derived from at least all the following serotypes: 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F,
1, 5, 7F (and may also comprise one or more from serotypes 3, 6A, 19A, and 22F),
wherein the GMC antibody titre induced against one or more (or all) the vaccine

components 4, 6B, 9V, 14,18C, 19F and 23F is not significantly inferior to that induced by
the Prevnar® vaccine in human vaccinees.
The vaccine preparations containing immunogenic compositions of the present invention
may be used to protect or treat a mammal susceptible to infection, by means of
administering said vaccine via systemic or mucosal route. These administrations may
include injection via the intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intradermal or subcutaneous
routes; or via mucosal administration to the oral/alimentary, respiratory, genitourinary
tracts. Intranasal administration of vaccines for the treatment of pneumonia or otitis media
is possible (as nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococci can be more effectively
prevented, thus attenuating infection at its earliest stage). Although the vaccine of the
invention may be administered as a single dose, components thereof may also be co-
administered together at the same time or at different times (for instance pneumococcal
saccharide conjugates could be administered separately, at the same time or 1-2 weeks
after the administration of the any bacterial protein component of the vaccine for optimal
coordination of the immune responses with respect to each other). For co-administration,
the optional Th1 adjuvant may be present in any or all of the different administrations. In
addition to a single route of administration, 2 different routes of administration may be
used. For example, saccharides or saccharide conjugates may be administered IM (or
ID) and bacterial proteins may be administered IN (or ID). In addition, the vaccines of the
invention may be administered IM for priming doses and IN for booster doses.
The content of protein antigens in the vaccine will typically be in the range 1-100g,
optionally 5-50g, most typically in the range 5 - 25g. Following an initial vaccination,
subjects may receive one or several booster immunizations adequately spaced.
Vaccine preparation is generally described in Vaccine Design ("The subunit and adjuvant
approach" (eds Powell M.F. & Newman M.J.) (1995) Plenum Press New York).
Encapsulation within liposomes is described by Fullerton, US Patent 4,235,877.
The vaccines or immunogenic compositions of the present invention may be stored in
solution or lyophilized. In an embodiment, the solution is lyophilized in the presence of a
sugar acting as an amorphous lyoprotectant, such as sucrose, trehalose, glucose,
mannose, maltose or lactose. In an embodiment, the solution is lyophilized in the

presence of a sugar acting as an amorphous lyoprotectant, and a bulking agent providing
improved cake structure such as glycine or mannitol. The presence of a crystalline bulking
agent allows for shortening freeze-drying cycles, in the presence of high salt
concentration. Examples of such mixtures for use in lyophilisation of the immunogenic
compositions or vaccines of the invention include sucrose/glycine, trehalose/glycine,
glucose/glycine, mannose/glycine, maltose/glycine, sucrose/mannitol/ trehalose/mannitol,
glucose/mannitoi, mannose/mannitol and maltose/mannitol. Typically The molar ratio of
the two constituents is optionally 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5 or 1:6. Immunogenic compositions
of the invention optionally comprise the lyophilisation reagents described above.
The above stabilising agents and mixtures of stabilising agents can further include a
polymer capable of increasing the glass transition temperature (Tg1) of the formulation,
such as poly(vinyl-pyrrolidone) (PVP), hydroxyethyl starch or dextran, or a polymer acting
as a crystalline bulking agent such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) for example having a
molecular weight between 1500 and 6000 and dextran.
The immunogenic compositions of the invention are optionally lyophilized and
extemporaneously reconstituted prior to use. Lyophilizing may result in a more stable
composition (vaccine) and may possibly lead to higher antibody titers in the presence of
3D-MPL and in the absence of an aluminum based adjuvant.
In one aspect of the invention is provided a vaccine kit, comprising a vial containing an
immunogenic composition of the invention, optionally in lyophilised form, and further
comprising a vial containing an adjuvant as described herein. It is envisioned that in this
aspect of the invention, the adjuvant will be used to reconstitute the lyophilised
immunogenic composition.
Although the vaccines of the present invention may be administered by any route,
administration of the described vaccines into the skin (ID) forms one embodiment of the
present invention. Human skin comprises an outer "horny" cuticle, called the stratum
comeum, which overlays the epidermis. Underneath this epidermis is a layer called the
dermis, which in turn overlays the subcutaneous tissue. Researchers have shown that
injection of a vaccine into the skin, and in particular the dermis, stimulates an immune
response, which may also be associated with a number of additional advantages.

Intradermal vaccination with the vaccines described herein forms -an optional feature of
the present invention.
The conventional technique of intradermal injection, the "mantoux procedure", comprises
steps of cleaning the skin, and then stretching with one hand, and with the bevel of a
narrow gauge needle (26-31 gauge) facing upwards the needle is inserted at an angle of
between 10-15°. Once the bevel of the needle is inserted, the barrel of the needle is
lowered and further advanced whilst providing a slight pressure to elevate it under the
skin. The liquid is then injected very slowly thereby forming a bleb or bump on the skin
surface, followed by slow withdrawal of the needle.
More recently, devices that are specifically designed to administer liquid agents into or
across the skin have been described, for example the devices described in WO 99/34850
and EP 1092444, also the jet injection devices described for example in WO 01/13977;
US 5.480,381, US 5,599,302, US 5,334.144, US 5,993,412, US 5,649,912. US 5,569,189,
US 5,704,911. US 5,383,851, US 5,893,397, US 5,466,220, US 5,339,163, US 5,312.335,
US 5,503,627, US 5,064,413, US 5,520, 639, US 4,596,556, US 4,790,824, US
4,941,880, US 4,940,460, WO 97/37705 and WO 97/13537. Alternative methods of
intradermal administration of the vaccine preparations may include conventional syringes
and needles, or devices designed for ballistic delivery of solid vaccines (WO 99/27961), or
transdermal patches (WO 97/48440; WO 98/28037); or applied to the surface of the skin
(transdermal or transcutaneous delivery WO 98/20734 ; WO 98/28037).
When the vaccines of the present invention are to be administered to the skin, or more
specifically into the dermis, the vaccine is in a low liquid volume, particularly a volume of
between about 0.05 ml and 0.2 ml.
The content of antigens in the skin or intradermal vaccines of the present invention may
be similar to conventional doses as found in intramuscular vaccines (see above).
However, it is a feature of skin or intradermal vaccines that the formulations may be "low
dose". Accordingly the protein antigens in "low dose" vaccines are optionally present in as
little as 0.1 to 10g or 0.1 to 5 g per dose; and the saccharide (optionally conjugated)
antigens may be present in the range of 0.01g, or between 0.01 to 0.5 g of
saccharide per dose.

As used herein, the term "intradermal delivery" means delivery of the vaccine to the region
of the dermis in the skin. However, the vaccine will not necessarily be located exclusively
in the dermis. The dermis is the layer in the skin located between about 1.0 and about 2.0
mm from the surface in human skin, but there is a certain amount of variation between
individuals and in different parts of the body. In general, it can be expected to reach the
dermis by going 1.5 mm below the surface of the skin. The dermis is located between the
stratum corneum and the epidermis at the surface and the subcutaneous layer below.
Depending on the mode of delivery, the vaccine may ultimately be located solely or
primarily within the dermis, or it may ultimately be distributed within the epidermis and the
dermis.
The present invention further provides an improved vaccine for the prevention or
amelioration of Otitis media caused by Haemophilus influenzae by the addition of
Haemophilus influenzae proteins, for example protein D in free or conjugated form. In
addition, the present invention further provides an improved vaccine for the prevention or
amelioration of pneumococcal infection in infants (e.g., Otitis media), by relying on the
addition of one or two pneumococcal proteins as free or conjugated protein to the S.
pneumoniae conjugate compositions of the invention. Said pneumococcal free proteins
may be the same or different to any S. pneumoniae proteins used as carrier proteins.
One or more Moraxella catarrhalis protein antigens can also be included in the
combination vaccine in a free or conjugated form. Thus, the present invention is an
improved method to elicit a (protective) immune response against Otitis media in infants.
In another embodiment, the present invention is an improved method to elicit a
(protective) immune response in infants (defined as 0-2 years old in the context of the
present invention) by administering a safe and effective amount of the vaccine of the
invention [a paediatric vaccine]. Further embodiments of the present invention include the
provision of the antigenic S. pneumoniae conjugate compositions of the invention for use
in medicine and the use of the S. pneumoniae conjugates of the invention in the
manufacture of a medicament for the prevention (or treatment) of pneumococcal disease.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is an improved method to elicit a
(protective) immune response in the elderly population (in the context of the present
invention a patient is considered elderly if they are 50 years or over in age, typically over
55 years and more generally over 60 years) by administering a safe and effective amount

of the vaccine of the invention, optionally in conjunction with one or two S. pneumoniae
proteins present as free or conjugated protein, which free S. pneumoniae proteins may be
the same or different as any S. pneumoniae proteins used as carrier proteins.
A further aspect of the invention is a method of immunising a human host against disease
caused by S. pneumoniae and optionally Haemophilus influenzae infection comprising
administering to the host an immunoprotective dose of the immunogenic composition or
vaccine or kit of the invention.
A further aspect of the invention is an immunogenic composition of the invention for use in
the treatment or prevention of disease caused by S.pneumoniae and optionally
Haemophilus influenzae infection.
A further aspect of the invention is use of the immunogenic composition or vaccine or kit
of the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of
diseases caused by S. pneumoniae and optionally Haemophilus influenzae infection.
The terms "comprising", "comprise" and "comprises" herein are intended by the inventors
to be optionally substitutable with the terms "consisting of, "consist of and "consists of,
respectively, in every instance.
Embodiments herein relating to "vaccine compositions" of the invention are also
applicable to embodiments relating to "immunogenic compositions" of the invention, and
vice versa.
All references or patent applications cited within this patent specification are incorporated
by reference herein.
In order that this invention may be better understood, the following examples are set forth.
These examples are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as limiting
the scope of the invention in any manner.
Examples

Example 1: EXPRESSION OF PROTEIN D
Haemophilus influenzae protein D
Genetic construction for protein D expression
Starting materials
The Protein D encoding ONA
Protein D is highly conserved among H. influenzae of all serotypes and non-
typeable strains. The vector pHIC348 containing the DNA sequence encoding the entire
protein D gene has been obtained from Dr. A. Forsgren, Department of Medical
Microbiology, University of Lund, Malmd General Hospital, Malmo, Sweden. The DNA
sequence of protein D has been published by Janson et al. (1991) Infect. Immun. 59: 119-
125.
The expression vector pMG1
The expression vector pMG1 is a derivative of pBR322 (Gross et al., 1985) in
which bacteriophage A derived control elements for transcription and translation of foreign
inserted genes were introduced (Shatzman et al., 1983). In addition, the Ampicillin
resistance gene was exchanged with the Kanamydn resistance gene.
The E. coli strain AR58
The E. coli strain AR58 was generated by transduction of N99 with a P1 phage
stock previously grown on an SA500 derivative (galE::TN10, lambdaKil" cl857 AH1). N99
and SA500 are E. coli K12 strains derived from Dr. Martin Rosenberg's laboratory at the
National Institute of Health.
The expression vector pMG 1
For the production of protein D, the DNA encoding the protein has been cloned
into the expression vector pMG 1. This plasmid utilises signals from lambdaphage DNA
to drive the transcription and translation of inserted foreign genes. The vector contains
the promoter PL, operator OL and two utilisation sites (NutL and NutR) to relieve
transcriptional polarity effects when N protein is provided (Gross et a/., 1985). Vectors
containing the PL promoter, are introduced into an E. coli lysogenic host to stabilise the
piasmid DNA. Lysogenic host strains contain replication-defective lambdaphage DNA
integrated into the genome (Shatzman et al., 1983). The chromosomal lambdaphage
DNA directs the synthesis of the cl repressor protein which binds to the OL repressor of

the vector and prevents binding of RNA polymerase to the PL promoter and thereby
transcription of the inserted gene. The cl gene of the expression strain AR58 contains a
temperature sensitive mutant so that PL directed transcription can be regulated by
temperature shift, i.e. an increase in culture temperature inactivates the repressor and
synthesis of the foreign protein is initiated. This expression system allows controlled
synthesis of foreign proteins especially of those that may be toxic to the cell (Shimataka &
Rosenberg, 1981).
The E. coli strain AR58
The AR58 lysogenic E. coli strain used for the production of the protein D carrier is
a derivative of the standard NIH E. coli K12 strain N99 (F su- galK2, lacZ' thr" ). It
contains a defective lysogenic lambdaphage (galE::TN10, lambdaKil" cl857 AH1). The Kil"
phenotype prevents the shut off of host macromolecular synthesis. The cl857 mutation
confers a temperature sensitive lesion to the cl repressor. The AH1 deletion removes the
lambdaphage right operon and the hosts bio, uvr3, and chIA loci. The AR58 strain was
generated by transduction of N99 with a P1 phage stock previously grown on an SA500
derivative (galE::TN10, lambdaKil' cl857 AH1). The introduction of the defective lysogen
into N99 was selected with tetracycline by virtue of the presence of a TN10 transposon
coding for tetracyclin resistance in the adjacent galE gene.
Construction of vector pMGMDPPrD
The pMG 1 vector which contains the gene encoding the non-structural S1 protein
of Influenzae virus (pMGNSI) was used to construct pMGMDPPrD. The protein D gene
was amplified by PCR from the pHIC348 vector (Janson ef al. 1991 Infect. Immun.
59:119-125) with PCR primers containing Ncol and Xbal restriction sites at the 5' and 3'
ends, respectively. The Ncol/Xbal fragment was then introduced into pMGNSI between
Ncol and Xbal thus creating a fusion protein containing the N-terminal 81 amino acids of
the NS1 protein followed by the PD protein. This vector was labelled pMGNSI PrD.
Based on the construct described above the final construct for protein D
expression was generated. A BamHI/BamHI fragment was removed from pMGNSI PrD.
This DNA hydrolysis removes the NS1 coding region, except for the first three N-terminal
residues. Upon religation of the vector a gene encoding a fusion protein with the following
N-terminal amino acid sequence has been generated:
MDP SSHSSNMANT

NS1 Protein D
The protein D does not contain a leader peptide or the N-terminal cysteine to
which lipid chains are normally attached. The protein is therefore neither excreted into the
periplasm nor lipidated and remains in the cytoplasm in a soluble form.
The final construct pMG-MDPPrD was introduced into the AR58 host strain by
heat shock at 37 °C. Plasmid containing bacteria were selected in the presence of
Kanamycin. Presence of the protein D encoding DNA insert was demonstrated by
digestion of isolated plasmid DNA with selected endonucleases. The recombinant E. coli
strain is referred to as ECD4.
Expression of protein D is under the control of the lambda PL promoter/ OL
Operator. The host strain AR58 contains a temperature-sensitive cl gene in the genome
which blocks expression from lambda PL at low temperature by binding to OL. Once the
temperature is elevated cl is released from OL and protein D is expressed.
Small-scale preparation
At the end of the fermentation the cells are concentrated and frozen.
The extraction from harvested cells and the purification of protein D was
performed as follows. The frozen cell culture pellet is thawed and resuspended in a cell
disruption solution (Citrate buffer pH 6.0) to a final OD650 = 60. The suspension is passed
twice through a high pressure homogenizer at P = 1000 bar. The cell culture homogenate
is clarified by centrifugation and cell debris is removed by filtration. In the first purification
step the filtered lysate is applied to a cation exchange chromatography column (SP
Sepharose Fast Flow). PD binds to the gel matrix by ionic interaction and is eluted by a
step increase of the ionic strength of the elution buffer.
In a second purification step impurities are retained on an anionic exchange matrix
(Q Sepharose Fast Flow). PD does not bind onto the gel and can be collected in the flow
through.
In both column chromatography steps fraction collection is monitored by OD. The
flow through of the anionic exchange column chromatography containing the purified
protein D is concentrated by ultrafiltration.
The protein D containing ultrafiltration retentate is finally passed through a 0.2 urn
membrane.
Large Scale Preparation

The extraction from harvested cells and the purification of protein D was
performed as follows. The harvested broth is cooled and directly passed twice through a
high pressure homogenizer at a Pressure of around 800 bars.
In the first purification step the cell culture homogenate is diluted and applied to a
cation exchange chromatography column (SP Sepharose Big beads). PD binds to the gel
matrix by Ionic interaction and is eluted by a step increase of the ionic strength of the
elution buffer and filtrated.
In a second purification step impurities are retained on an anionic exchange matrix
(Q Sepharose Fast Flow). PD does not bind onto the gel and can be collected in the flow
through.
In both column chromatography steps fraction collection is monitored by OD. The
flow through of the anionic exchange column chromatography containing the purified
protein D is concentrated and diafiltrated by ultrafiltration.
The protein D containing ultrafiltration retentate is finally passed through a 0.2 urn
membrane.
Example 1b: EXPRESSION OF PhtD
The PhtD protein is a member of the pneumococcal histidine-triad (Pht) protein family
characterized by the presence of histidine-triads (HXXHXH motif). PhtD is a 838 aa-
molecule and carries 5 histidine triads (see Medlmmune WO00/37105 SEQ ID NO: 4 for
amino acid sequence and SEQ ID NO: 5 for DNA sequence). PhtD also contains a proline-
rich region in the middle (amino acid position 348-380). PhtD has a 20 aa-N-terminal
signal sequence with a LXXC motif.
Genetic construct
The gene sequence of the mature Medlmmune PhtD protein (from aa 21 to aa 838) was
transferred recombinantly to E. coli using the in-house pTCMP14 vector carrying the p
promoter. The E. coli host strain is AR58, which carries the cI857 thermosensitive
repressor, allowing heat-induction of the promotor.
Polymerase chain reaction was realized to amplify the phtD gene from a Medlmmune
plasmid (carrying the phtD gene from Streptococcuspneumoniae strain Norway 4
(serotype 4) - SEQ ID NO: 5 as described in WO 00/37105). Primers, specific for the phtD
gene only, were used to amplify the phtD gene in two fragments. Primers carry either the
Ndel and Kpnl or the Kpnl and Xbal restriction sites. These primers do not hybridize with
any nucleotide from the vector but only with phtD specific gene sequences. An artificial
ATG start codon was inserted using the first primer carrying the Ndel restriction site. The
generated PCR products were then inserted into the pGEM-T cloning vector (Promega),

and the DNA sequence was confirmed. Subcloning of the fragments in the TCMP14
expression vector was then realized using standard techniques and the vector was
transformed into AR58 E. coli.
PhtD Purification
PhtD purification is achieved as follows:
° Growth of E.coli cells in the presence of Kanamycin: growth 30 hours at 30 °C then
induction for 18 hours at 39.5 °C
° Breakage of the E.coli cells from whole culture at OD +115 in presence of EDTA 5 mM
and PMSF 2 mM as protease inhibitors: Rannie, 2 passages, 1000 bars.
° Antigen capture and cells debris removal on expanded bed mode Streamline Q XL
chromatography at room temperature (20°C); the column is washed with NaCl 150 mM
+ Empigen 0.25% pH 6.5 and eluted with Nad 400 mM + Empigen 0.25% in 25 mM
potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.4.
Filtration on Sartobran 150 cartridge (0.45 + 0.2 m)
n Antigen binding on Zn++ Chelating Sepharose FF IMAC chromatography at pH 7.4 in
presence of 5 mM imidazole at 4°C; the column is washed with Imidazole 5 mM and
Empigen 1% and eluted with 50 mM imidazole, both in 25 mM potassium phosphate
buffer pH 8.0.
° Weak anion exchange chromatography in positive mode on Fractogel EMD DEAE at
pH 8.0 (25 mM potassium phosphate) at 4°C; the column is washed with 140 mM NaCI
and eluted at 200 mM NaCI while contaminants (proteins and DNA) remain adsorbed
on the exchanger.
° Concentration and ultrafiltration with 2 mM Na/K phosphate pH 7.15 on 50 kDa
membrane.
o Sterilising filtration of the purified bulk on a Millipak-20 0.2 m filter cartridge.
Example 1c: EXPRESSION OF PNEUMOLYSIN
Pneumococcal pneumolysin was prepared and detoxified as described in WO2004/081515
and WO2006/032499.
Example 2:
Preparation of conjugates
It is well known in the art how to make purified pneumococcal polysaccharides.
For the purposes of these examples the polysaccharides were made essentially as

described in EP072513 or by closesly-related methods. Before conjugation the
polysaccharides may be sized by microfluidisation as described below.
The activation and coupling conditions are specific for each polysaccharide. These
are given in Table 1. Sized polysaccharide (except for PS5, 6B and 23F) was dissolved in
NaCI 2M, NaCI 0.2M or in water for injection (WFI). The optimal polysaccharide
concentration was evaluated for all the serotypes. All serotypes except serotype 18C
were conjugated directly to the carrier protein as detailed below. Two alternative serotype
22F conjugates were made; one conjugated directly, one through an ADH linker.
From a 100 mg/ml stock solution in acetonitrile or acetonitrile/water 50%/50%
solution, CDAP (CDAP/PS ratio 0.5-1.5 mg/mg PS) was added to the polysaccharide
solution. 1.5 minute later, 0.2M-0.3M NaOH was added to obtain the specific activation
pH. The activation of the polysaccharide was performed at this pH during 3 minutes at 25
oC. Purified protein (protein D, PhtD, pneumolysin or DT) (the quantity depends on the
initial PS/carrier protein ratio) was added to the activated polysaccharide and the coupling
reaction was performed at the specific pH for up to 2 hour (depending upon serotype)
under pH regulation. In order to quench un-reacted cyanate ester groups, a 2M glycine
solution was then added to the mixture. The pH was adjusted to the quenching pH (pH
9.0). The solution was stirred for 30 minutes at 25 °C and then overnight at 2-8 oC with
continuous slow stirring.
Preparation of 18C:
18C was linked to the carrier protein via a linker - Adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH)
Polysaccharide serotype 18C was microfluidized before conjugation.
Derivatization of tetanus toxoid with EDAC
For derivatization of the tetanus toxoid, purified TT was diluted at 25 mg/ml in 0.2M NaCI
and the ADH spacer was added in order to reach a final concentration of 0.2M. When the
dissolution of the spacer was complete, the pH was adjusted to 6.2. EDAC (1-ethyl-3-(3-
dimethyl-aminopropyl) carbodiimide) was then added to reach a final concentration of
0.02M and the mixture was stirred for 1 hour under pH regulation. The reaction of
condensation was stopped by increasing pH up to 9.0 for at least 30 minutes at 25°C.
Derivatized TT was then diafiltrated (10 kDa CO membrane) in order to remove residual
ADH and EDAC reagent.
TTAH bulk was finally sterile filtered until coupling step and stored at -70°C.
Chemical coupling of TTAH to PS 18C
Details of the conjugation parameters can be found in Table 1.

2 grams of microfluidized PS were diluted at the defined concentration in water and
adjusted to 2M NaCI by NaCI powder addition.
CDAP solution (100 mg/ml freshly prepared in 50/50 v/v acetonitrile/WFI) was added to
reach the appropriate CDAP/PS ratio.
The pH was raised up to the activation pH 9.0 by the addition of 0.3M NaOH and was
stabilised at this pH until addition of TTAH-
After 3 minutes, derivatized TTAH (20 mg/ml in 0.2 M NaCI) was added to reach a ratio
TTAH /PS of 2; the pH was regulated to the coupling pH 9.0. The solution was left one hour
under pH regulation.
For quenching, a 2IVI glycine solution, was added to the mixture PS/TTAH/CDAP.
The pH was adjusted to the quenching pH (pH 9.0).
The solution was stirred for 30 min at 25 °C, and then left overnight at 2-8°C with
continuous slow stirring.
PS22FAn-PhtD conjugate
In a second conjugation method for this saccharide (the first being the direct
PS22-PhtD conjugation method shown in Table 1), 22F was linked to the carrier protein
via a linker - Adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH). Polysaccharide serotype 22F was
microfluidized before conjugation.
PS 22F derivatization
Activation and coupling are performed at 25°C under continuous stirring in a temperature-
controlled waterbath.
Microfluidized PS22F was diluted to obtain a final PS concentration of 6 mg/ml in 0.2M
NaCI and the solution was adjusted at pH 6.05 ± 0.2 with 0.1 N HCI.
CDAP solution (100 mg/ml freshly prepared in acetonitrile/WFI, 50/50) was added to
reach the appropriate CDAP/PS ratio (1.5/1 ww).
The pH was raised up to the activation pH 9.00 ±0.05 by the addition of 0.5M NaOH and
was stabilised at this pH until addition of ADH.
After 3 minutes, ADH was added to reach the appropriate ADH/PS ratio (8.9/1 w/w); the
pH was regulated to coupling pH 9.0. The solution was left for 1 hour under pH
regulation.
The PSAH derivative was concentrated and diafiltrated.
Coupling

PhtD at 10 mg/ml in 0.2M NaCI was added to the PS22FAH derivative in order to reach a
PhtD/PS22FAn ratio of 4/1 (w/w). The pH was adjusted to 5.0 ± 0.05 with HCI. The EDAC
solution (20 mg/ml in 0.1 M Tris-HCI pH 7.5} was added manually in 10 min (250 m min)
to reach 1 mg EDAC/mg PS22FAH. The resulting solution was incubated for 150 min
(though 60 mins was also used) at 25oC under stirring and pH regulation. The solution
was neutralized by addition of 1M Tris-HCI pH 7.5 (1/10 of the final volume) and let 30 min
at 25°C.
Prior to the elution on Sephacryl S400HR, the conjugate was clarified using a Sum
Minisart filter.
The resulting conjugate has a final PhtD/PS ratio of 4.1 (w/w), a free PS content below
1% and an antigenicity (-PS/ct-PS) of 36.3% and anti-PhtD antigenicity of 7.4%.
Purification of the conjugates:
The conjugates were purified by gel filtration using a Sephacryl S400HR gel filtration
column equilibrated with 0.15M NaCI (S500HR for 18C) to remove small molecules
(including DMAP) and unconjugated PS and protein. Based on the different molecular
sizes of the reaction components, PS-PD, PS-TT, PS-PhtD, PS-pneumolysin or PS-DT
conjugates are eluted first, followed by free PS, then by free PD or free DT and finally
DMAP and other salts (NaCI, glycine).
Fractions containing conjugates are detected by UV2BO nm- Fractions are pooled according
to their Kd, sterile filtered (0.22m) and stored at +2-8°C. The PS/Protein ratios in the
conjugate preparations were determined.
Specific activation/coupling/quenching conditions of PS S. pneumoniae-Proteln
D/TT/DT/PhtD/Plvconiuqates
Where "fluid" appears in a row header, it indicates that the saccharide was sized by
microfluidisation before conjugation. Sizes of saccharides following microfluidisation are
given in table 2.




Each conjugate was characterised and met the specifications described in Table
2. The polysaccharide content (ug/ml) was measured by the Resorcinol test and the
protein content (ug/ml) by the Lowry test. The final PS/PD ratio (w/w) is determined by the
ratio of the concentrations.
Free polysaccharide content (%):
The free polysaccharide content of conjugates kept at 4°C or stored 7 days at
37°C was determined on the supernatant obtained after incubation with -carrier protein
antibodies and saturated ammonium sulfate, followed by a centrifugation.
An -PS/-PS ELISA was used for the quantification of free polysaccharide in the
supernatant. The absence of conjugate was also controlled by an -carrier protein/a-PS
ELISA.
Antigenicity:
The antigenicity on the same conjugates was analyzed in a sandwich-type ELISA
wherein the capture and the detection of antibodies were -PS and -Protein
respectively.
Free protein content (%):
Unconjugated carrier protein can be separated from the conjugate during the •
purification step. The content of free residual protein was determined using size exclusion
chromatography (TSK 5000-PWXL) followed by UV detection (214 nm). The elution
conditions allowed separating the free carrier protein and the conjugate. Free protein
content in conjugate bulks was then determined versus a calibration curve (from 0 to 50
g/ml of carrier protein). Free carrier protein in % was obtained as follows: % free carrier
= (free carrier (g/ml)/ (Total concentration of corresponding carrier protein measured by
Lowry (g/ml)* 100%).
Stability:
Molecular weight distribution (Kav) and stability was measured on a HPLC-SEC gel
filtration (TSK 5000-PWXL) for conjugates kept at 4°C and stored for 7 days at 37°C.
The 10/11/13/14-valent characterization is given in Table 2 (see comment
thereunder).

The protein conjugates can be adsorbed onto aluminium phosphate and pooled to form
the final vaccine.
Conclusion:
Immunogenic conjugates have been produced, that have since been shown to be
components of a promising vaccine.

A 10 valent vaccine was made by mixing serotype 1, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and
23F conjugates (e.g. at a dose of 1, 3, 1,1,1, 1,1, 3, 3, 1 g of saccharide, respectively
per human dose). An 11 valent vaccine was made by further adding the serotype 3
conjugate from Table 5 (e.g. at 1 g of saccharide per human dose). A 13 valent vaccine
was made by further adding the serotypes 19A and 22F conjugates above (with 22F
either directly linked to PhtD, or alternatively through an ADH linker) [e.g. at a dose of 3
g each of saccharide per human dose]. A 14 valent vaccine may be made by further

adding the serotype 6A conjugate above [e.g. at a dose of 1 g of saccharide per human
dose.
Example 3: Evidence that inclusion of Haemphilus influenzae protein D in an
immunogenic composition of the invention can provide improved protection
against acute otitis media (AOM).
Study design.
The study used an 11Pn-PD vaccine - comprising serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14,
18C, 19F and 23F each conjugated to protein D from H. influenzae (refer to Table 5 in
Example 4). Subjects were randomized into two groups to receive four doses of either the
11Pn-PD vaccine or Havrix at approximately 3, 4, 5 and 12-15 months of age. All subjects
received GSK Bioiogicals" Infanrix- hexa (DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib) vaccine concomitantly at 3,
4 and 5 months of age. Infanrix- hexa is a combination of Pediarix and Hib mixed before
administration. Efficacy follow-up for the "According-to-Protocol" analysis started 2 weeks
after administration of the third vaccine dose and continued until 24-27 months of age.
Nasopharyngeal carriage of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae was evaluated in a
selected subset of subjects.
Parents were advised to consult the investigator if their child was sick, had ear pain,
spontaneous perforation of the tympanic membrane or spontaneous ear discharge. If the
investigator suspected an episode of AOM, the child was immediately referred to an Ear,
Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for confirmation of the diagnosis.
A clinical diagnosis of AOM was based on either the visual appearance of the tympanic
membrane (i.e. redness, bulging, loss of light reflex) or the presence of middle ear fluid
effusion (as demonstrated by simple or pneumatic otoscopy or by microscopy). In
addition, at least two of the following signs or symptoms had to be present: ear pain, ear
discharge, hearing loss, fever, lethargy, irritability, anorexia, vomiting, or diarrhea. If the
ENT specialist confirmed the clinical diagnosis, a specimen of middle ear fluid was
collected by tympanocentesis for bacteriological testing.
For subjects with repeated sick visits, a new AOM episode was considered to have
started if more than 30 days had elapsed since the beginning of the previous episode. In
addition, an AOM episode was considered to be a new bacterial episode if the isolated
bacterium/serotype differed from the previous isolate whatever the interval between the
two consecutive episodes.

Trial results
A total of 4968 infants were enrolled, 2489 in the 11 Pn-PD group and 2479 in the control
group. There were no major differences in the demographic characteristics or risk factors
between the two groups.
Clinical episodes and AOM case definition
During the per protocol follow-up period, a total of 333 episodes of clinical AOM were
recorded in the 11Pn-PD group and 499 in the control group.
Table 3 presents the protective efficacy of the 11 Pn-PD vaccine and both 7-valent
vaccines previously tested in Finland (Eskola et al N Engl J Med 2001; 344: 403 - 409
and Kilpi et a/Clin Infect Dis 2003 37:1155-64) against any episode of AOM and AOM
caused by different pneumococca! serotypes, H. influenzae, NTHi and M. catanfiaiis.
Statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction by 33.6% of the overall AOM
disease burden was achieved with 11 Pn-PD, irrespective of the etiology (table 3).
The overall efficacy against AOM episodes due to any of the 11 pneumococcal serotypes
contained in the 11 Pn-PD vaccine was 57.6% (table 3).
Another important finding in the current study is the 35.6% protection provided by the
11 Pn-PD vaccine against AOM caused by H. influenzae (and specifically 35.3%
protection provided by NTHi). This finding is of major clinical significance, given the
increased importance of H. influenzae as a major cause of AOM in the pneumococcal
conjugate vaccine era. In line with the protection provided against AOM, the 11Pn-PD
vaccine also reduced nasopharyngeal carriage of H. influenzae following the booster dose
in the second year of life. These findings are in contrast with previous observations in
Finland where, for both 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, an increase in AOM
episodes due to H. influenzae was observed, (Eskola et aland Kilpi et al) as evidence of
etiological replacement.
A clear correlation between protection against AOM episodes due to Hi and antibody
levels against the carrier Protein D could not be established, as post-primary anti-PD IgG
antibody concentrations in 11 Pn-PD vaccinees, that remained Hi AOM episode-free, were
essentially the same as post-primary anti-PD IgG antibody levels measured in 11Pn-PD
vaccinees that developed at least one Hi AOM episode during the efficacy follow-up
period. However, although no correlation could be established between the biological
impact of the vaccine and the post-primary IgG anti-PD immunogenicity, it is reasonable

to assume that the PD carrier protein, which is highly conserved among H. inffuenzae
strains, has contributed to a large extent in the induction of the protection against Hi.
The effect on AOM disease was accompanied by an effect on nasopharyngeal carriage
that was of similar magnitude for vaccine serotype pneumococci and H. influenzae (Figure
1). This reduction of the nasopharyngeal carriage of H. influenzae in the PD-conjugate
vaccinees supports the hypothesis of a direct protective effect of the PD-conjugate
vaccine against H. influenzae, even if the protective efficacy could not be correlated to the
anti-PD IgG immune responses as measured by ELISA.
In a following experiment a chinchilla ctitis media model was used with serum pools from
infants immunised with the 11 valent formulation of this example or with the 10 valent
vaccine of Example 2 (see also Table 1 and 2 and comments thereunder). Both pools
induce a significant reduction of the percentage of animals with otitis media versus the
pre-immune serum pool. There is no significant difference beteen the 10 and 11 valent
immune pools. This demonstrates that both vaccines have a similar potential to induce
protection against otitis media caused by non typeable H. influenzae in this model.



Example 4:
Selection of carrier protein for serotype 19F
ELISA assay used
The 22F inhibition ELISA method was essentially based on an assay proposed in
2001 by Concepcion and Frasch and was reported by Henckaerts et al., 2006, Clinical
and Vaccine Immunology 13:356-360. Briefly, purified pneumococcal polysaccharides
were mixed with methylated human serum albumin and adsorbed onto Nunc Maxisorp™
(Roskilde, DK) high binding microtitre plates overnight sit 4°C. The plates were blocked
with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in PBS for 1 hour at room temperature with agitation.
Serum samples were diluted in PBS containing 10% FBS, 10 ug/mL cell-wall
polysaccharide (SSI) and 2 g/mL of pneumococcal polysaccharide of serotype 22F
(ATCC), and further diluted on the microtitre plates with the same buffer. An internal
reference calibrated against the standard serum 89-SF using the serotype-specific IgG
concentrations in 89-SF was treated in the same way and included on every plate. After
washing, the bound antibodies were detected using peroxidase-conjugated anti-human
IgG monoclonal antibody (Stratech Scientific Ltd., Soham, UK) diluted in 10% FBS (in
PBS), and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature with agitation. The color was
developed using ready-to-use single component tetramethylbenzidine peroxidase enzyme
immunoassay substrate kit (BioRad, Hercules, CA, US) in the dark at room temperature.
The reaction was stopped with H2SO4 0.18 M, and the optical density was read at 450
nm. Serotype-specific IgG concentrations (in g/mL) in the samples were calculated by
referencing optical density points within defined limits to the internal reference serum
curve, which was modelized by a 4-parameter logistic log equation calculated with
SoftMax Pro™ (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA) software. The cut-off for the ELISA
was 0.05 g/mL IgG for all serotypes taking into account the limit of detection and the limit
of quantification.
Opsonophagocytosis assay
At the WHO consultation meeting in June 2003, it was recommended to use an OPA
assay as set out in Romero-Steiner et al Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2003 10 (6): pp1019-
1024. This protocol was used to test the OPA activity of the serotypes in the following
tests.
Preparation of conjugates

In studies 11Pn-PD&Di-001 and 11Pn-PD&Di-007, three 11-valent vaccine formulations
(Table 4) were included in which 3g of the 19F polysaccharide was conjugated to
diphtheria toxoid (19F-DT) instead of 1|jg polysaccharide conjugated to protein D (19F-
PD). Conjugation parameters for the studies 11Pn-PD, 11 Pn-PD&Di-001 and 11 Pn-
PD&Di-007 are disclosed in Tables 5, 6 and 7 respectively.
Anti-pneumococcal antibody responses and OPA activity against serotype 19F one
month following primary vaccination with these 19F-DT formulations are shown in
Table 8 and 9 respectively. 10 shows 22F-ELISA
antibody concentrations and percentages of subjects reaching the 0.2 ug/mL threshold
before and after 23-va!ent plain polysaccharide booster vaccination.
The opsonophagocytic activity was shown to be clearly improved for antibodies induced
with these 19F-DT formulations as demonstrated by higher seropositivity rates
(opsonophagocytic titers > 1:8) and OPA GMTs one month following primary vaccination
(Table 9). One month after 23-valent plain polysaccharide booster vaccination,
opsonophagocytic activity of 19F antibodies remained significantly better for children
primed with 19F-DT formulations (Error! Reference source not found. 11).
Error! Reference source not found. 12 presents immunogenicity data following a 11Pn-
PD booster dose in toddlers previously primed with 19F-DT or 19F-PD conjugates
compared to a 4th consecutive dose of Prevnar®. Given the breakthrough cases reported
after the introduction of Prevnar® in the US, the improved opsonophagocytic activity
against serotype 19F when conjugated to the DT carrier protein may be an advantage for
the candidate vaccine.
Error! Reference source not found. 13 provides ELISA and OPA data for the 19F-DT
conjugate with respect to the cross-reactive serotype 19A. It was found that 19F-DT
induces low but significant OPA activity against 19A.














Example 5: Adjuvant experiments in preclinical models: impact on the
Immunogenicty of pneumococcal 11-valent polysaccharide conjugates in
elderly Rhesus monkeys
To optimize the response elicited to conjugate pneumococcal vaccines in the elderly
population, GSK formulated an 11-valent polysaccharide (PS) conjugate vaccine with a
novel adjuvant Adjuvant C - see below.
Groups of 5 elderly Rhesus monkeys (14 to 28 years-old) were immunized
intramuscularly (IM) at days 0 and 28 with 500 l of either' 11-valent PS' conjugates
adsorbed onto 315 g of AIPO4 or 11-valent PS conjugatess admixed with Adjuvant C.
In both vaccine formulations, the 11-valent PS conjugates were each composed of the
following conjugates PS1-PD, PS3-PD, PS4-PD, PS5-PD, PS7F-PD, PS9V-PD, PS14-
PD, PS18C-PD, PS19F-PD, PS23F-DT and PS6B-DT. The vaccine used was 1/5 dose of
of the human dose of the vaccine (5 g of each saccharide per human dose except for 6B
[10 g]) conjugated according to Table 6 conditions (Example 4), except 19F was made
according to the following CDAP process conditions: sized saccharide at 9 mg/ml, PD at 5
mg/ml, an initial PD/PS ratio of 1.2/1, a CDAP concentration of 0.75 mg/mg PS,
pHa=pHc=pHq 9.0/9.0/9.0 and a coupling time of 60 min.
Anti-PS ELISA IgG levels and opsono-phagocytosis titres were dosed in sera collected at
day 42. Anti-PS3 memory B cell frequencies were measured by Elispot from peripheral
blood cells collected at day 42.
According to the results shown here below, Adjuvant C significantly improved the
immunogenicity of 11-valent PS conjugates versus conjugates with AIPO4 in elderly
monkeys. The novel adjuvant enhanced the IgG responses to PS (Figure 1) and the
opsono-phagocytosis antibody titres (Table 14). There was also supportive evidence that
the frequency of PS3-specific memory B cells is increeised by the use of Adjuvant C
(Figure 2).


B Cell Elispot
The principle of the assay relies pn the fact that memory B cells mature into plasma cells
in vitro following cultivation with CpG for 5 days. In vitro generated antigen-specific
plasma cells can be easily detected and therefore be enumerated using the B-cell elispot
assay. The number of specific plasma cells mirrors the frequency of memory B cells at the
onset of the culture.
Briefly, in vitro generated plasma cells are incubated in culture plates coated with antigen.
Antigen-specific plasma cells form antibody/antigen spots, which are detected by
conventional immuno-enzymatic procedure and enumerated as memory B cells.
In the present study, Polysaccharides have been used to coat culture plates in order to
enumerate respective memory B cells. Results are expressed as a frequency of PS specific
memory B cells within a million of memory B cells.
The study shows that Adjuvant C may be able to alleviate the known problem of PS3
boostability (see 5th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal
Diseases, April 2-6 2006, Alice Springs, Central Australia.
Specificities of immune responses against a serotype 3 pneumococcal conjugate.
Schuerman L, Prymula R, Poolman J. Abstract book p 245, PO10.06).
Example 6, Effectiveness of detoxified Pneumolysin (dPIy) as a protein carrier to
enhance the immunogenicity of PS 19F in young Balb/c mice
Groups of 40 female Balb/c mice (4-weeks old) were immunized IM at days 0, 14 and 28
with 50 l of either 4-valent plain PS or 4-valent dPIy-conjugated PS, both admixed with
Adjuvant C.
Both vaccine formulations were composed of 0.1 g (quantity of saccharide) of each of
the following PS: PS8, PS12F, PS19F and PS22F.
Anti-PS ELISA IgG levels were dosed in sera collected at day 42.
The anti-PS19F response, shown as an example in Figure 3, was strongly enhanced in
mice given 4-valent dPIy conjugates compared to mice immunized with the plain PS. The
same improvement was observed for the anti-PS8, 12F and 22F IgG responses (data not
shown).

Example 7, Effectiveness of Pneumococcal Histidine Triad Protein D (PhtD) as a
protein carrier to enhance the immunogenicity of PS 22F in young Balb/c mice
Groups of 40 female Balb/c mice (4-weeks old) were immunized IM at days 0, 14 and 28
with 50 Ml of either 4-valent plain PS or 4-valent PhtD-conjiigated PS, both admixed with
Adjuvant C.
Both vaccine formulations were composed of 0.1 ug (quantity of saccharide) of each of
the following PS: PS8, PS12F. PS19F and PS22F.
Anti-PS ELISA IgG levels were dosed in sera collected at day 42.
The anti-PS22F response, shown as an example in Figure 4, was strongly enhanced in
mice given 4-valent PhtD conjugates compared to mice immunized with the plain PS. The
same improvement was observed for the anti-PS8,12F and 19F IgG responses (data not
shown).
Example 8, Immunogenicity in elderiy C57BI mice of 13-valent PS conjugates
containing 19A-dPly and 22F-PhtD
Groups of 30 old C57BI mice (>69-weeks old) were immunized IM at days 0. 14 and 28
with 50 l of either 11-valent PS conjugates or 13-valent PS conjugates, both admixed
with Adjuvant C (see below).
The 11-valent vaccine formulation was composed of 0.1 ug saccharide of each of the
following conjugates: PS1-PD, PS3-PD, PS4-PD, PS5-PD, PS6B-PD, PS7F-PD, PS9V-
PD, PS14-PD, PS18C-TT, PS19F-DT and PS23F-PD (see Table 1 and comment on 11
valent vaccine discussed under Table 2). The 13-valent vaccine formulation contained in
addition 0.1 ug of PS19A-dPly and PS22F-PWD conjugates (see Table 1 and comment on
13 valent vaccine discussed under Table 2 [using directly-conjugated 22F]). In group 2
and 4 the pneumolysin carrier was detoxified with GMBS treatment, in group 3 and 5 it
was done with formaldehyde. In groups 2 and 3 PhtD was used to conjugate PS 22F, in
Groups 4 and 5 a PhtD_E fusion (the construct VP147 from WO 03/054007) was used. In
group 6 19A was conjugated to diphtheria toxoid and 22F to protein D.
Anti-PS19A and 22F ELISA IgG levels were dosed in individual sera collected at day 42.
The ELISA IgG response generated to the other PS was measured in pooled sera.
19A-dPly and 22F-PhtD administered within the 13-valent conjugate vaccine formulation
were shown immunogenic in old C57BI mice (Table 15). The immune response induced
against the other PS was not negatively impacted in mice given the 13-valent formulation
compared to those immunized with the 11-valent formulation.




Example 9, Immunogenicity in young Balb/c mice of 13-valent PS conjugates
containing 19A-dPly and 22F-PhtD
Groups of 30 young Balb/c mice (4-weeks old) were immunized IM at days 0, 14 and 28
with 50 L of either 11-valent PS conjugates or 13-valent PS conjugates, both admixed
with Adjuvant C (see below).
The 11-valent vaccine formulation was composed of 0.1 ug saccharide of each of the
following conjugates: PS1-PD, PS3-PD, PS4-PD, PS5-PD, PS6B-PD, PS7F-PD. PS9V-
PD, PS14-PD, PS18C-TT, PS19F-DT and PS23F-PD (see Table 1 and comment on 11
valent vaccine discussed under Table 2). The 13-valent vaccine formulation contained in
addition 0.1 g of PS19A-dPly and PS22F-PhtD conjugates (see Table 1 and comment on
13 valent vaccine discussed under Table 2 [using directly-conjugated 22F])- In group 2
and 4 the pneumolysin carrier was detoxified with GMBS treatment, in group 3 and 5 it
was done with formaldehyde. In groups 2 and 3 PhtD was used to conjugate PS 22F, in
Groups 4 and 5 a PhtD_E fusion (the construct VP147 from WO 03/054007) was used. In
group 6 19A was conjugated to diphtheria toxoid and 22F to protein D.
Anti-PS19A and 22F ELISA IgG levels were dosed in individual sera collected at day 42.
The ELISA IgG response generated to the other PS was measured in pooled sera.
19A-dPly and 22F-PMD administered within the 13-valent conjugate vaccine formulation
were shown immunogenic in young Balb/c mice (Table 16). The immune response
induced against the other PS was not negatively impacted in mice given the 13-valent
formulation compared to those immunized with the 11-valent formulation.



Example 10, Immunogenicity in Guinea Pigs of 13-valent PS conjugates containing
19A-dPly and 22F-PhtD
Groups of 20 young Guinea Pigs (Hartley Strain; 5 weeks old) were immunized IM at days
0, 14 and 28 with 125 l of either 11-valent PS conjugates or 13-valent PS conjugates,
both admixed with Adjuvant C (see below).

The 11-valent vaccine formulation was composed of 0.25 g saccharide of each of the
following conjugates: PS1-PD, PS3-PD, PS4-PD, PS5-PD, PS6B-PD, PS7F-PD, PS9V-
PD, PS14-PD, PS18C-TT, PS19F-DT and PS23F-PD (see Table 1 and comment on 11
valent vaccine discussed under Table 2). The 13-valent vaccine formulation contained in
addition 0.1 ug of PS19A-dPly and PS22F-PhtD conjugates (see Table 1 and comment on
13 valent vaccine discussed under Table 2 [using directly-conjugated 22F]). In group 2
and 4 the pneumolysin carrier was detoxified with GMBS treatment, in group 3 and 5 it
was done with formaldehyde. In groups 2 and 3 PhtD was used to conjugate PS 22F, in
Groups 4 and 5 a PhtDE fusion (the construct VP147 from WO 03/054007) was used. In
group 6 19A was conjugated to diphtheria toxoid and 22F to protein D.
Anti-PS19A and 22F ELISA IgG levels were dosed in individual sera collected at day 42.
The ELISA IgG response generated to the other PS was measured in pooled sera.






KH2PO413.124 mg Buffer
Na2HPO41 0.290 mg Buffer
NaCI 2.922 mg
(100 mM)
WFI q.s. ad 0.5 ml Solvent
pH6.1
d) The saccharides are also formulated with Adjuvant C (see above for other
compositions where this adjuvant has been used):
Qualitative Quantitative (per 0.5 mL dose)
Oil in water emulsion: 50 l
-squalene 2.136 mg
- a-tocopherol 2.372 mg
- Tween 80 0.97 mg
- cholesterol 0.1 mg
3DMPL 50 g
QS21 50 g
KH2PO410.470 mg Buffer
Na2HPQ11 0.219 mg Buffer
NaCI 4.003 mg
(137 mM)
KCI0.101mg
(2.7 mM)
WFI q.s. ad 0.5 ml Solvent
PH6.8
Example 12, impact of conjugation chemistry on 22F-PhtD conjugate
immunogenicity in Balb/c mice
Groups of 30 female Balb/c mice were immunised by the intramuscular (IM) route at days
0,14 and 28 with 13-valent PS formulations containing PS 1, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14,18C,
19A, 19F, 22F and 23F (dose: 0.3 ug saccharide / conjugate for PS 4, 18C, 19A, 19F and
22F and 0.1 ug saccharide / conjugate for the other PS).
PS 18C was conjugated to Tetanus Toxoid, 19F to Diphteria Toxoid, 19A to formol-
detoxified Ply, 22F to PhtD and the other PS to PD.
Two formulations, constituted of either 22F-PMD prepared by direct CDAP chemistry or
22F-AH-PhtD (ADH-derivitized PS), were compared. See Example 2, Table 1 and
comment under Table 2 for characteristics of 13 valent vaccine made either with 22F
directly conjugated or via an ADH spacer. The vaccine formulations were supplemented
with adjuvant C.

Anti-PS22F ELISA IgG levels and opsono-phagocytosis titres were measured in sera
collected at day 42.
22F-AH-PhtD was shown much more immunogenic than 22F-PMD in terms of both IgG
levels (figure 5) and opsono-phagocytic titres (figure 6).
Example 13. impact of new adjuvants on immurioqenicitv of Streptoccoccus
pneumoniae capsule PS conjugates
Groups of 40 female Balb/c mice were immunised by the IM route at days 0, 14 and 28
with 13-valent PS formulations containing PS 1, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F,
22F and 23F (dose: 0.3 g / conjugate for PS 4, 18C, 19A, 19F and 22F and 0.1 ug /
conjugate for the other PS).
PS 18C was conjugated to Tetanus Toxoid, 19F to Diphteria Toxoid, 19A to formol-
detoxified Ply, 22F to PhtD and the other PS to PD. See Example 2, Table 1 and
comment under Table 2 for characteristics of 13 valent vaccine made with 22F directly
conjugated.
Four formulations, supplemented with either AIPO4, adjuvant A1, adjuvant A4 or adjuvant
A5, were compared.
Anti-PS, Ply, PhtD and PD ELISA IgG levels were measured in sera collected at day 42
and pooled per group. The following ratio was calculated for each antigen: IgG level
induced with the new adjuvant tested / IgG level induced with AiPO4.
All the new adjuvants tested improved at least 2-fold the immune responses to 13-valent
conjugates compared to the classical AIPO4 formulation (figure 7).
Example 14. protective efficacy of a PhtD/detoxified Ply combo in a pneumococcal
monkey pneumonia model
Groups of 6 Rhesus monkeys (3 to 8 years-old), selected as those having the lowest preexisting
anti-19F antibody levels, were immunized intramuscularly at days 0 and 28 with
either 11-valent PS conjugates (i.e. 1 ug of PS 1, 3, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14 and 23F, and 3 ug
of PS 4, 18C and 19F [of saccharide]) or PhtD (10 g) + formol-detoxified Ply (10 g) or
the adjuvant alone.

PS 18C was conjugated to Tetanus Toxoid, 19F to Diphteria Toxoid and the other PS to
PD. See Example 2, Table 1 and comment under Table 2 for characteristics of 11 valent
vaccine. All formulations were supplemented with adjuvant C.
Type 19F pneumococci (5.108 cfu) were inoculated in the right lung at day 42. Colonies
were counted in broncho-alveolar lavages collected at days 1, 3 and 7 post-challenge.
The results were expressed as the number of animals per group either dead, lung
colonized or cleared at day 7 after challenge.
As shown in figure 8, a good protection close to statistical significance (despite the low
number of animals used) was obtained with 11-valent conjugates and the PhtD+dPly
combo (p Example 15. impact of conjugation chemistry on the anti-PhtD antibody response
and the protective efficacy against a type 4 challenge induced by 22F-PhtD
conjugates
Groups of 20 female OF1 mice were immunised by the intramuscular route at days 0 and
14 with 3 ug of either 22F-PhtD (prepared by direct CDAP chemistry) or 22F-AH-PhtD
(ADH-derivitized PS), or the adjuvant alone. Both monovalent 22F conjugates were made
by the processes of Example 2 (see also Table 1 and Table 2). Each formulation was
supplemented with adjuvant C.
Anti-PhtD ELISA IgG levels were measured in sera collected at day 27.
Mice were challenged intranasally with 5.106 cfu of type 4 pneumococci at day 28 (i.e. a
pneumococcal serotype not potentially covered by the PS present in the vaccine
formulation tested). The mortality induced was monitored until day 8 post-challenge.
22F-AH-PhtD induced a significantly higher anti-PhtD IgG response and better protection
against type 4 challenge than 22F-PhtD.

WE CLAIM:
1. An immunogenic composition comprising S. pneumoniae capsular saccharide conjugates from
serotypes 19A and 19F wherein 19A is conjugated to a first bacterial toxoid and 19F is
conjugated to a second bacterial toxoid and further comprising conjugates of S. pneumoniae
capsular saccharides 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 22Fand 23F.
2. The immunogenic composition of claim 1 wherein the first bacterial toxoid is a different protein
to the second bacterial toxin.
3. The immunogenic composition of claims 1-2 further comprising conjugates of S. pneumoniae
capsular saccharides 1, 5 and 7F.
4. The immunogenic composition of claims 1-3 further comprising a S. pneumoniae capsular
saccharide 3 conjugate.
5. The immunogenic composition of claims 1-4 further comprising a S. pneumoniae capsular
saccharide 6A conjugate.
6. The immunogenic composition of any preceding claim which further comprises one or more
unconjugated or conjugated S pneumoniae proteins.
7. The immunogenic composition of claim 72 or 73 wherein said one or more S. pneumoniae
proteins are selected from Poly Histidine Triad family (PhtX), Choline Binding Protein family
(CbpX), CbpX truncates, LytX family, LytX truncates, CbpX truncate-LytX truncate chimeric
proteins, detoxified pneumolysin (Ply), PspA, PsaA, Sp128, Sp101, Sp130, Sp125 and Sp133.
8. The immunogenic composition of any of claim 6 or 7 which comprises a PhtX protein.
9. The immunogenic composition according to any preceding claim which further comprises an
adjuvant.
10. A vaccine comprising the immunogenic composition of any one of claims 1 to 9 and a
pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
11. A process for making the vaccine according to claim 10 which comprises the step of mixing
the immunogenic composition of any of claims 1 to 9 with a pharmaceutically acceptable
excipient.

12. A method of immunising a human host against disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae
infection comprising administering to the host an immunoprotective dose of the immunogenic
composition of any one of claims 1 to 9 or the vaccine of claim 10.
13. The use of the immunogenic composition or vaccine of claims 1 to 9 or vaccine of claim 10 in
the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of diseases caused by
Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.
14. The immunogenic composition of claims 1-9 or vaccine of claim 10, which comprises
saccharide conjugates derived from at least all the following serotypes: 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C,
19F, 23F, 1, 5, 7F wherein the GMC antibody titre induced against one or more of the vaccine
components 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F is not significantly inferior to that induced by the
Prevnar® vaccine in human vaccinees.
15. An immunogenic composition comprising at least four S. pneumoniae capsular saccharide
conjugates containing saccharides from different S. pneumoniae serotypes wherein at least
one saccharide is conjugated to PhtD or fusion protein thereof and the immunogenic
composition is capable of eliciting an effective immune response against PhtD.

The present invention discloses an immunogenic composition comprising S. pneumoniae capsular saccharide conjugates from serotypes 19A and 19F wherein 19A is conjugated to a first bacterial toxoid and 19F is conjugated to a second bacterial
toxoid. Vaccines, methods of making vaccines and uses of the vaccines are also described.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=TPAi+RFfHgiKxfu4pzXccA==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 271080
Indian Patent Application Number 2573/KOLNP/2008
PG Journal Number 06/2016
Publication Date 05-Feb-2016
Grant Date 01-Feb-2016
Date of Filing 24-Jun-2008
Name of Patentee GLAXOSMITHKLINE BIOLOGICALS S. A.
Applicant Address RUE DE L'INSTITUT 89, B-1330 RIXENSART
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 BIEMANS RALPH LEON GLAXOSMITHKLINE BIOLOGICALS S. A. RUE DE L INSTITUT 89, B-1330 RIXENSART
2 HERMAND PHILIPPE VINCENT GLAXOSMITHKLINE BIOLOGICALS S. A. RUE DE L INSTITUT 89, B-1330 RIXENSART
3 POOLMAN, JAN GLAXOSMITHKLINE BIOLOGICALS S. A. RUE DE L INSTITUT 89, B-1330 RIXENSART
4 VAN MECHELEN, MARCELLE PAULETTE GLAXOSMITHKLINE BIOLOGICALS S. A. RUE DE L INSTITUT 89, B-1330 RIXENSART
5 GARCON, NATHALIE MARIE-JOSEPHE GLAXOSMITHKLINE BIOLOGICALS S. A. RUE DE L INSTITUT 89, B-1330 RIXENSART
PCT International Classification Number A61K 39/09
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2006/069977
PCT International Filing date 2006-12-20
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 0526232.4 2005-12-22 U.K.
2 0620816.9 2006-10-19 U.K.
3 0620815.1 2006-10-19 U.K.
4 0609902.2 2006-05-18 U.K.
5 PCT/GB2006/004634 2006-12-12 U.K.