Cited by 123SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesVaccine Coverage and Hesitancy

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 32 of the 32 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 12 of the 17 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Immunogenicity and safety of a booster dose of a self-amplifying RNA COVID-19 vaccine (ARCT-154) versus BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine: a double-blind, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority trial

Open access

Abstract

Background Licensed mRNA COVID-19 vaccines require booster doses to sustain SARS-CoV-2-specific responses, creating the need for novel, broadly immunogenic vaccines. We aimed to compare the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of ARCT-154-a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 D614G variant-with the BNT162b2 (Comirnaty; Pfizer-BioNTech) mRNA vaccine when administered as a fourth-dose booster. Methods This double-blind, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority trial, conducted at 11 outpatient clinical sites in Japan, enrolled healthy adults aged at least 18 years who had previously been immunised with two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 [Spikevax; Moderna]) followed by a third dose of BNT162b2 at least 3 months before enrolment. Participants were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio using an Interactive Response Technology system with a block size of four, and with stratification by age (18-64 years or ≥65 years) and by interval since last COVID-19 vaccination (<5 months or ≥5 months), to receive either ARCT-154 or BNT162b2 as a fourth-dose booster via deltoid intramuscular injection. Participants and investigators assessing outcomes were masked to group assignment. The primary objective, measured in per-protocol set 1 (consisting of participants with no evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection who received their intended injection according to protocol), was to show that the immune response 28 days after the ARCT-154 vaccine was non-inferior to that of the BNT162b2 vaccine, measured in terms of both pseudovirus neutralising antibody geometric mean titre (GMT) ratios and seroresponse rates against the wild-type Wuhan-Hu-1 strain of SARS-CoV-2. Non-inferiority was declared when the lower limit of the 95% CI of the ARCT-154 to BNT162b2 GMT ratio exceeded 0·67, and when the lower limit for the difference in seroresponse rates exceeded -10%. Key secondary endpoints included the immune response against the omicron BA.4/5 subvariant, which was assessed for non-inferiority and superiority in per-protocol set 1. Safety was assessed in the full analysis set. This study was registered on the Japan Registry for Clinical Trials, jRCT 2071220080, and is ongoing. Findings Between Dec 13, 2022, and Feb 25, 2023, we enrolled and randomly assigned 828 participants to receive ARCT-154 (n=420) or BNT162b2 (n=408) vaccines as a fourth-dose booster. In per-protocol set 1, the GMTs of surrogate neutralising antibodies induced against the Wuhan-Hu-1 SARS-CoV-2 strain in the ARCT-154 group (5641 [95% CI 4321-7363]) were non-inferior to those in the BNT162b2 group (3934 [2993-5169]) when measured at 28 days after boosting, with a GMT ratio of 1·43 (95% CI 1·26-1·63). Seroresponse rates were 65·2% (95% CI 60·2-69·9) in the ARCT-154 group versus 51·6% (46·4-56·8) in the BNT162b2 group, a difference of 13·6% (95% CI 6·8-20·5). GMTs against the omicron BA.4/5 variant on day 29 were 2551 (1687-3859) in the ARCT-154 group and 1958 (1281-2993) in the BNT162b2 group-a GMT ratio of 1·30 (1·07-1·58)-with seroresponse rates of 69·9% (65·0-74·4) and 58·0% (52·8-63·1). Both boosters were equally well tolerated. No treatment-related deaths were reported, nor were there severe or serious adverse events considered to be causally associated related to study vaccination. One serious adverse event, a foot deformity reported in a participant in the BNT162b2 group, was observed but determined not to have a causal relationship to the study vaccination. One severe adverse event, a case of abnormal hepatic function in the ARCT-154 group, was considered to be related to study vaccine. Adverse events of special interest for detection of myocarditis and pericarditis included chest pain (one case in the ARCT-154 group and three cases in the BNT162b2 group) and shortness of breath (two cases in the BNT162b2 group), all of which were considered to have a reasonable possibility of being related to vaccination. Local reactions were reported by 398 (95%) of 420 participants receiving the ARCT-154 vaccine and 395 (97%) of 408 participants receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine, and solicited systemic adverse events by 276 (66%) of those receiving the ARCT-154 vaccine and 255 (63%) of those receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine. Adverse events were mainly mild in severity, occurring and resolving within 3-4 days after vaccination. Interpretation In adults who had previously received three doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, immune responses 28 days after an ARCT-154 booster dose were non-inferior to those observed after a BNT162b2 booster dose for the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain of SARS-CoV-2 and superior for the Omicron BA.4/5 variant. Increased immune responses at 28 days might provide increased likelihood of protection against these strains during this period and could also result in longer duration of protection. Further studies will assess the immunogenicity induced against more recent SARS-CoV-2 variants. Funding Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Translation For the Japanese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In adults who had previously received three mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses, a fourth-dose ARCT-154 self-amplifying RNA booster was non-inferior to BNT162b2 for Wuhan-Hu-1 neutralising antibody GMT and seroresponse at day 29, and superior for the omicron BA.4/5 subvariant. Safety through day 29 showed no treatment-related deaths and mainly mild adverse events.

Key findings

  • Against Wuhan-Hu-1 in per-protocol set 1, day-29 GMTs were 5641 (95% CI 4321–7363) after ARCT-154 versus 3934 (2993–5169) after BNT162b2, with a GMT ratio of 1.43 (95% CI 1.26–1.63); seroresponse rates were 65.2% (60.2–69.9) versus 51.6% (46.4–56.8), a difference of 13.6% (6.8–20.5).
  • Against omicron BA.4/5, day-29 GMTs were 2551 (1687–3859) after ARCT-154 versus 1958 (1281–2993) after BNT162b2, with a GMT ratio of 1.30 (1.07–1.58); seroresponse rates were 69.9% (65.0–74.4) versus 58.0% (52.8–63.1), a difference of 11.6% (4.9–18.3), meeting superiority criteria.
  • Solicited local reactions were reported by 398 (95%) of 420 ARCT-154 recipients and 395 (97%) of 408 BNT162b2 recipients; solicited systemic adverse events by 276 (66%) and 255 (63%), respectively. Adverse events were mainly mild and resolved within 3–4 days.
  • No treatment-related deaths occurred. One severe adverse event, abnormal hepatic function in the ARCT-154 group, was considered related to study vaccine; one serious adverse event, foot deformity in the BNT162b2 group, was judged unrelated. No myocarditis or pericarditis was detected among participants reporting chest pain or shortness of breath.

Methods

  • Double-blind, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority trial at 11 outpatient clinical sites in Japan; 828 adults aged ≥18 years who had received three documented mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses, with the third dose being BNT162b2 at least 3 months before enrolment, were randomly assigned 1:1 to ARCT-154 (n=420) or BNT162b2 (n=408) as a fourth-dose booster.
  • Randomisation used an Interactive Response Technology system with block size four, stratified by age (18–64 or ≥65 years) and interval since last COVID-19 vaccination (<5 or ≥5 months); participants and outcome assessors were masked.
  • Primary immunogenicity analysis was in per-protocol set 1 (385 ARCT-154, 374 BNT162b2), requiring no evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and receipt of intended injection per protocol; non-inferiority required the lower 95% CI of the ARCT-154 to BNT162b2 GMT ratio to exceed 0.67 and the lower 95% CI for seroresponse-rate difference to exceed −10%. GMTs were analysed by ANCOVA and seroresponse differences by the Miettinen-Nurminen method; safety was assessed in the full analysis set.

Limitations

  • The paper states low numbers of older participants limited analysis of responses in older people; only 19 participants were aged ≥65 years, and small subgroup numbers prevented statistical demonstration of non-inferiority in some groups.
  • The paper states immunogenicity and safety were monitored only up to day 29; durability at 3, 6, and 12 months and cellular immunity are still being assessed, and protective responses against currently dominant variants such as omicron XBB subvariants EG.5.1 and BA.2.86 and future variants still need evaluation.
  • The paper notes observed seroconversion rates were low (65% ARCT-154, 52% BNT162b2), probably because high baseline immunity made a four-fold increase harder to achieve; the text also makes evident that no independent data monitoring committee was used.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00650-3

Cites

32 of 32 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

49 Own result · 13 Own method · 11 Own interpretation · 5 Partly supported · 2 Supported · 2 Sources not found · 1 Supported so far · 1 Mixed support · 1 Couldn’t confirm · 1 No basis given · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 29 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 48
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 16
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
57 of 57
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The pre-specified non-inferiority margins (GMT ratio 0.67 and seroresponse rate difference -10%) are clinically acceptable.

    “Non-inferiority was declared when the lower limit of the 95% CI of the ARCT-154 to BNT162b2 GMT ratio exceeded 0•67, and when the lower limit for the difference in seroresponse rates exceeded -10%.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Neutralising antibody titres and seroresponse rates are valid correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease.

    “Increased immune responses at 28 days might provide increased likelihood of protection against these strains during this period and could also result in longer duration of protection.”
2 of 2

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

2 of 2

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Metadata

Authors
Oda, Y., Kumagai, Y., Kanai, M., Iwama, Y., Okura, I., Minamida, T., Yagi, Y., Kurosawa, T., Greener, B., Zhang, Y., & Walson, J. L.
Affiliations
  • Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. (Japan) (JP)
  • Kitasato Institute Hospital (JP)
  • Arcturus Therapeutics (United States) (US)
Corresponding author
Walson, Judd L
Venue
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2024-04
Volume
24
Issue
4
Pages
351-360
ISSN
1473-3099 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4389990639
Cited by
123
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 31
FWCI
23.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Lancet Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Japan Labour Health and Welfare Organization
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Social Sciences › Health › Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
Keywords
self-amplifying RNA vaccine, COVID-19 booster vaccination, BNT162b2, mRNA vaccines, SARS-CoV-2, immunogenicity, vaccine safety, neutralizing antibodies, non-inferiority, mRNA-1273
MeSH terms
Immunogenicity, Vaccine, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Vaccines, mRNA Vaccines, BNT162 Vaccine, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Antibodies, Viral, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Middle Aged, RNA, Young Adult

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