Immunogenicity of a cpg-adjuvanted herpes zoster vaccine

A method of increasing an immune response against varicella zoster virus (VZV) in a human subject in need thereof, the method comprising:

• administering to the human subject an immunogenic composition comprising:
• i) an unmethylated cytidine-phospho-guanosine (CpG)-containing oligonucleotide comprising the sequence of 5′-TGACTGTGAA CGTTCGAGAT GA-3′(SEQ ID NO:
• 1);
• and ii) a truncated VZV glycoprotein E (gE) antigen, wherein the immunogenic composition comprises about 100 μg of the gE antigen and about 3000 μg or about 6000 μg of the oligonucleotide.

An immunogenic composition for use in a method of increasing cell-mediated immunity against varicella zoster virus (VZV) in a human subject in need thereof, the method comprising:

• administering to the human subject the immunogenic composition, the immunogenic composition comprising:
• i) an unmethylated cytidine-phospho-guanosine (CpG)-containing oligonucleotide comprising the sequence of 5′-TGACTGTGAA CGTTCGAGAT GA-3′(SEQ ID NO:
• 1);
• and ii) a truncated VZV glycoprotein E (gE) antigen, which are present in the immunogenic composition in amounts effective to increase cell-mediated immunity against VZV relative to cell-mediated immunity against VZV in the subject prior to administration of the immunogenic composition, wherein a first dose and a second dose of the immunogenic composition is to be administered to the human subject, with the second dose to be administered from 2 months to 6 months after the first dose.

Use of an immunogenic composition in the manufacture of a medicament for increasing cell-mediated immunity against varicella zoster virus (VZV) in a human subject in need thereof, wherein:

• the immunogenic composition comprises:
• i) an unmethylated cytidine-phospho-guanosine (CpG)-containing oligonucleotide comprising the sequence of 5′-TGACTGTGAA CGTTCGAGAT GA-3′(SEQ ID NO:
• 1);
• and ii) a truncated VZV glycoprotein E (gE) antigen, which are present in the immunogenic composition in amounts effective to increase cell-mediated immunity against VZV relative to cell-mediated immunity against VZV in the subject prior to administration of the immunogenic composition, and wherein a first dose and a second dose of the immunogenic composition is to be administered to the human subject, with the second dose to be administered from 2 months to 6 months after the first dose.

Use of an immunogenic composition in the manufacture of a medicament for increasing an immune response against varicella zoster virus (VZV) in a human subject in need thereof, wherein:

• the immunogenic composition comprises:
• i) an unmethylated cytidine-phospho-guanosine (CpG)-containing oligonucleotide comprising the sequence of 5′-TGACTGTGAA CGTTCGAGAT GA-3′(SEQ ID NO:
• 1);
• and ii) a truncated VZV glycoprotein E (gE) antigen, wherein the immunogenic composition comprises about 100 μg of the gE antigen and about 3000 μg or about 6000 μg of the oligonucleotide.

An immunogenic composition comprising:

• i) an unmethylated cytidine-phospho-guanosine (CpG)-containing oligonucleotide comprising the sequence of 5′-TGACTGTGAA CGTTCGAGAT GA-3′(SEQ ID NO:
• 1);
• ii) a truncated VZV glycoprotein E (gE) antigen;
• and iii) at least one excipient,
• wherein the gE antigen is a recombinant protein produced in mammalian cells and is present in the immunogenic composition in an amount of from about 25 μg to about 150 μg, the oligonucleotide is present in the immunogenic composition in an amount of from about 750 μg to about 6000 μg, and the at least one excipient comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer.

An immunogenic composition comprising i) an unmethylated cytidine-phospho-guanosine (CpG)-containing oligonucleotide comprising the sequence of 5′-TGACTGTGAA CGTTCGAGAT GA-3′(SEQ ID NO:

• 1);
• ii) a truncated VZV glycoprotein E (gE) antigen;
• and iii) at least one excipient,
• wherein the gE antigen is a recombinant protein produced in mammalian cells and is present in the immunogenic composition in an amount of about 100 μg, the oligonucleotide is present in the immunogenic composition in an amount of about 3000 μg or about 6000 μg, and the at least one excipient comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer.