Can HepB-CpG Vaccine Overcome Nonresponsiveness to HepB-Alum Vaccine?

The CpG1018-adjuvanted hepatitis B vaccine (HepB-CpG) Heplisav-B was licensed in 2017, with data showing improved immune responses in categories of patients having hyporesponsiveness to alum-adjuvanted hepatitis B vaccines (HepB-alum), such as those with diabetes, obesity, and end-stage renal disease. To test if HepB-CpG augments seroresponses in healthcare workers who were nonresponders to HepB-alum, investigators performed an open-label study in which nonresponders received two doses of HepB-CpG 28-42 days apart.

Among 49 nonresponders who had previously received 5–9 doses of HepB-alum vaccines, response frequency was 84% after 1 dose of HepB-CpG and 91% after 2 doses.