HerpeVac Trial for Young Women

Genital herpes disease was defined as signs (swelling, papules, vesicles, ulcers, crusts, fissures, erythema, or vaginal discharge) and/or symptoms (pain, burning, itching, tingling, dysuria) which developed on the skin or mucosa of the anogenital region and/or buttocks and laboratory confirmation of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)-1 or 2 infection (either concomitant positive HSV culture or HSV seroconversion within 6 months after onset of signs and/or symptoms). Seroconversion to HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 was defined as a positive HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 Western blot in a subject with a previously negative Western blot result for the corresponding HSV type.

The number of subjects with newly acquired HSV-2 infection confirmed by either virus culture or HSV-2 seroconversion was tabulated. Seroconversion to HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 was defined as a positive HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 Western blot in a subject with a previously negative Western blot result for the corresponding HSV type.

The number of subjects with newly acquired HSV-2 infection confirmed by either virus culture or HSV-2 seroconversion was tabulated. Seroconversion to HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 was defined as a positive HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 Western blot in a subject with a previously negative Western blot result for the corresponding HSV type.

Antibodies were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Concentrations were expressed as geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) in ELISA units per milliliter (EU/mL). The seroprotection cut-off of the assay was 40 EU/mL

Titers for Anti-HSV neutralizing antibodies are presented as Geometric Mean Titers (GMTs), and are expressed in Estimated Doses (ED), that is, the reciprocal of the dilution necessary to achieve neutralization. Antibody titers below the lowest level of quantification were not calculated .

Solicited local symptoms assessed were pain, redness and swelling.

Solicited general symptoms assessed were fatigue, headache, malaise and fever (defined as oral/axillary/tympanic temperature equal to or above 37.5 degrees Celsius).

Solicited local symptoms assessed were pain, redness and swelling.

Grade 3 pain = pain that prevented normal activities.

Grade 3 redness/swelling = redness/swelling above 30 mm and persisting for more than 24 hours

Solicited general symptoms assessed were fatigue, headache, malaise and fever (oral/axillary/tympanic).

Grade 3 headache, fatigue, malaise = symptom that prevented normal activities.

Grade 3 fever = temperature above 39.0 degrees Celsius.

Related = symptom assessed by the investigator as causally related to the vaccination

Unsolicited AEs have been tabulated for a 31-day period. An unsolicited AE was any adverse event (i.e. any untoward medical occurrence in a patient or clinical investigation subject, temporally associated with use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product) reported in addition to those solicited during the clinical study and any solicited symptom with onset outside the specified period of follow-up for solicited symptoms.

NOCDs included adverse events (AEs) as autoimmune disorders, asthma, type I diabetes, allergies. MSCs included AEs prompting emergency room or physician visits unrelated to common diseases or routine visits for physical examination or vaccination, or SAEs unrelated to common diseases. SAEs included medical occurrences either life-threatening, requiring hospitalization, or resulting in death, disability/incapacity or congenital anomaly/birth defect in a subject's offspring. Common diseases included upper respiratory infections (URIs), sinusitis, pharyngitis, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, cervico-vaginal yeast infections, menstrual cycle abnormalities and injury. The following were not reported if not considered as SAEs and occurring more than 30 days post vaccination: URIs, sinusitis, pharyngitis, gastroenteritis, injury, or visits for routine physical examination or vaccination. AEs are described, using Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities' preferred terms.

SAEs assessed included medical occurrences that resulted in death, were life-threatening, required hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, resulted in disability/incapacity or were a congenital anomaly/birth defect in a subject's offspring.