Evaluation of the compatibility of a second generation recombinant anthrax vaccine with aluminum-containing adjuvants

Recombinant protective antigen (rPA) is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in a second generation anthrax vaccine undergoing pre-clinical evaluation. This rPA vaccine differs from the currently licensed vaccine, anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA), in that the sole component is a recombinant form of protective antigen (PA). Unlike AVA the rPA vaccine contains no lethal factor (LF) or edema factor (EF), components of the two bipartite toxins, nor many other Bacillus anthracis-related contaminating proteins that are present in AVA. The proposed clinical protocol involves adsorption of the rPA to an aluminum-based adjuvant. The adsorptive characteristics of rPA and two aluminum-containing adjuvants were examined in a physiological buffer with and without EDTA. Based on the pI of rPA (pI=5.6) and the zero charge point of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (11.5) and aluminum phosphate adjuvant (4.5), it was predicted and demonstrated that rPA bound in a more efficient manner to aluminum hydroxide adjuvant than to aluminum phosphate adjuvant in the physiological buffer. Binding of the rPA to the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant was decreased by increasing amounts of phosphate in the buffer. The adsorptive capacity for rPA onto aluminum hydroxide adjuvant in the physiological buffer and in water were calculated to be 0.46 mg rPA/mg aluminum in DPBS and 0.73 mg rPA/mg aluminum in water. This study also demonstrated that upon desorption from the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant the rPA was physically intact and free of detectable aggregates. Further, the eluted material was biologically active in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay. Desorption was only possible after an overnight incubation of 2-8 degrees C and not after a room temperature incubation reflecting increased contact with the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant over time. These data suggest that the interaction between rPA and aluminum hydroxide adjuvant is predominantly electrostatic in character.