CMAJ News

Rotavirus in faces controversy

new pediatric vaccine for rotavirus that apparently A showed 56% efficacy in a phase III clinical trial has run into con- troversy, according to an expert who points to the need for more safety data and questions the rationale for includ- ing it in routine immunization. The vaccine, ROTAVAC, was devel- oped by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Government of India’s Depart- ment of Biotechnology. It is being con- sidered for licensing by the Drugs Con- troller General of India and for inclusion in the national immunization program. Provisionally priced at US$1 per dose, the vaccine is much less expen- sive than RotaTeq and Rotarix, each of which costs more than US$15 per dose in India. The efficacy of these varies, depending on the strain of the virus and other factors, from a high of 80%–96% in the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, to a low of 77% in South Africa and 50% in Malawi (www.who.int/immunization /sage/3_Detailed_Review_Paper_on _Rota_Vaccines_17_3_2009.pdf). ROTAVAC, an oral vaccine, would be administered to infants in a three- dose course at the ages of 6, 10 and 14 weeks. According to the Indian govern- ment’s media release, ROTAVAC re - duces severe diarrhea by 56% during the first year of life, with protection continuing into the second year of life. The Indian government describes it as “an important scientific break- © 2013 Thinkstock © through.” Rotavirus is the most severe Rotavirus, which can be transmitted through fecally contaminated water, is the most and lethal cause of childhood diarrhea severe and lethal cause of childhood diarrhea in India, accounting for 22% of all diarrhea- in India, accounting for 22% of all diar- related deaths in the under-five population, or 98 621 annually. rhea-related deaths in the under-five population, or 98 621 deaths annually. about 800 000 annually, according to said that although 56% efficacy may not “The clinical results indicate that the the World Health Organization (WHO) seem good, “ in a disease like rotavirus- vaccine, if licensed, could save the lives and UNICEF (www .who.int/maternal related diarrhea with a huge burden it of thousands of children each year in _child_adolescent /documents/97892415 will indeed have a huge impact in terms India,” stated Dr. K. VijayRaghavan, 98415 /en/). Rotavirus is the most com- of the number of lives saved. … Inter- secretary of the Department of Biotech- mon pathogen, accounting for 37% of ventions in all ways should be tried to nology, in a news release (http://pib.nic all diarrhea-related deaths and 5% of all save the maximum number of lives. The .in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=95976). deaths in under-five children globally. price of the vaccine at just about US$1 is Diarrhea-related diseases account for Chandrakant Lahariya, an immuniza- also not so huge.” more than 1 in 10 under-five deaths, or tion specialist at WHO in , However, another expert is more

© 2013 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors CMAJ, September 3, 2013, 185(12) E563 News skeptical. “Do you know another vac- ment came before the study was even infants out of 100 000 might develop cine with 50% efficacy that is used for officially completed. According to the intussuception within seven days of programs?” asks Jacob clinical trials registry, the estimated study getting the first dose of the RotaTeq or Puliyel, head of the Department of completion date is April 2014, with an Rotarix vaccine . Pediatrics, St. Stephen’s Hospital, Tis estimated primary completion date of MK Bhan, former secretary in the Hazari, Delhi. “It is a toss-up if the vac- December 2013, both months away. Department of Biotechnology, stated cine will work for you. If 100% [of the] There are also questions about the in the government announcement that population is vaccinated it will reduce new vaccine’s safety. According to the “vaccine efficacy compares 50% [of the] rotavirus deaths. What are Puliyel, the incidence of intususscep- favourably with the efficacy of the cur- the numbers needed to treat [to prevent tion is 1 in 50 000 among infants vacci- rently licensed rotavirus vaccines in one death]?” he asks. nated with Rotarix, the new Glaxo- low-resource countries.” The answer to his questions will SmithKline Inc. vaccine, which was However, no one is commenting on only be available once the study results studied in 70 000 participants. By con- the fact that according to data in the clin- are published in a peer-reviewed jour- trast, the ROTAVAC vaccine trial ical trials registry, the safety and efficacy nal, but that hasn’t happened yet, enrolled only 6800 participants, which of the new ROTAVAC vaccine was only prompting another criticism from is a small number to establish safety for compared to placebo, not to any “cur- Puliyel. “I think the fact that this [vac- rare events (http://clinicaltrials.gov rently licensed rotavirus vaccine” as cine] was announced before peer /show/NCT01305109). Bhan claims. http://clinicaltrials.gov review, [means] it will never be prop- “They have to publish urgently /show/NCT01305109). — Soumyadeep erly reviewed. That is the story that about safety,” said Puliyel. Bhaumik MBBS, Kolkata, India must come out,” Puliyel told CMAJ. The US Centers for Disease Control In fact, the government announce- and Prevention estimates that 1–3 CMAJ 2013. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-4543

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