Subunit Vaccine Against Herpes Zoster in RA Patients Treated With JAK-inhibitors (VACCIMIL-ZOSTER)

Background. Treatment with JAK-inhibitors has been shown to improve the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and delay the development of radiographic damage. However, these remedies have been shown to increase risk of herpes zoster (HZ) infections in RA. Currently available live attenuated vaccine against HZ is contraindicated in patients receiving immunosuppressive treatments. A new subunit vaccine against HZ has recently been approved for vaccination of adults in Sweden. This vaccine (Shingrix) has been shown to elicit a strong cellular and humoral immune response in healthy adults regardless of age. Studies on the immunogenicity and efficacy of this vaccine in immunosuppressed patients, such as patients with RA, are scarce.

Objectives. To investigate: 1) the immunogenicity of 2 doses of HZ vaccine (Shingrix) administrated at least 2 months apart in patients with RA treated with JAK-inhibitors for at least 3 months compared to immunogenicity of the vaccine given to healthy controls; 2) the tolerability of subunit vaccine against HZ i.e. whether vaccination is associated with increased disease activity, flare of RA or the onset of other autoimmune disease 3) long-term immunogenicity of two doses of the subunit vaccine against HZ; 4) the impact of smoking habits and alcohol consumption on the immunogenicity of vaccine and protection against HZ infection 5) the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing HZ.

Methodology. Patients with RA, regularly followed at the Skåne University Hospital, section for rheumatology already treated with JAK inhibitors for at least 3 months are eligible for the study and will be offered to participate in the study. At vaccination, the clinical examination is performed, and data on disease and treatment characteristics, co-morbidity, smoking and alcohol habits are collected. All participants are encouraged to take the notice of changes in the existing RA or other unexpected side effects following vaccinations. Blood samples will be collected immediately before the first vaccination and 4-6 weeks after the second dose of the vaccine and thereafter 3 and 5 years after vaccination. The levels of antibodies to glycoprotein E (gE) using standard ELISA will be performed on the blood samples collected at vaccination, 4-6 weeks following the second dose of the vaccine and after 3 and 5 years. A flow-cytometric assay will be used for the detection of the cell-mediated immunity (number of antigen specific CD4+ T-cells) against the varicella-zoster virus. The prevalence of HZ among patients participating in the study will be compared to in-patient and out-patient register data on the corresponding infections among age- and sex- matched non-vaccinated controls using data from the regional health and care registry in the Skåne region, southern Sweden.

Impact. Results from this project will provide the evidence whether 2 doses of the subunit HZ vaccine is immunogenic, safe and efficacious in patients with RA treated with JAK- inhibitors and which factors can influence the efficacy of the vaccine. These results can be used for the future recommendations on vaccination against HZ and when in relation to treatment the immunization should be performed in order to reach the best protection. In the long term this should result in decreased morbidity in HZ infections, complication of those infections and lower health-care costs.