This information is intended for US healthcare professionals to access current scientific information about J&J Innovative Medicine products. It is prepared by Medical Information and is not intended for promotional purposes, nor to provide medical advice.
SUMMARY
- The company cannot recommend any practices, procedures, or usage of IMAAVY that deviate from the approved labeling.
- Please refer to the local labeling for relevant information regarding vaccinations with IMAAVY.
- In a randomized, open-label, parallel, single-site, interventional study, the effect of IMAAVY on immunoglobulin G (IgG) response to T-cell–dependent/independent vaccines (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine [Tdap]; pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine [PPSV®23], respectively) was evaluated in healthy adult patients.1
- In a post-hoc analysis, IMAAVY was assessed for the impact on pre-existing clinically relevant anti-vaccine antibodies and antibody response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination and infection.2
Clinical Data
Randomized, Open-label Study
Cossu et al (2024)1 evaluated the effect of IMAAVY on IgG response to T-cell-dependent/independent Tdap and PPSV®23 vaccines in healthy adult patients.
Study Design
- Healthy patients (≥18 years of age) were randomized (1:1) to receive either IMAAVY (active arm) or no drug (control arm). (See Figure: Phase 1 Vaccine Challenge Study in Healthy Volunteers).1
- The target population consisted of healthy male and female patients, 18 to 65 years of age, with no history of receiving a tetanus (eg, Tdap, Td) vaccine in the past ≤5 years or a pneumococcal vaccine (eg, Prevnar 7, 13, and 20 or PPSV®23) in the past ≤10 years.
- This study assessed the following: total IgG median percentage from baseline, proportion of patients with positive IgG response to tetanus vaccine, change in anti-tetanus (anti-TT) and anti-pneumococcal (anti-PCP) IgG levels over time, and serotype-specific anti-PCP IgG response.
Phase 1 Vaccine Challenge Study in Healthy Volunteers1

Abbreviations: AE, adverse event; anti-TT, anti-tetanus; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IV, intravenous; PPSV®23, 23-polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine; q2w, every 2 weeks; R, randomization; Tdap, tetanus toxoid, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event.
aPositive anti-TT response was defined as a patient with a pre-vaccination anti-TT IgG <0.16 IU/mL and a post-vaccination anti-TT IgG ≥0.16 IU/mL or a pre-vaccination anti-TT IgG ≥0.16 IU/mL and a ≥2-fold increase from baseline in post-vaccination anti-TT IgG titers at week 4.
Results
- The demographic and baseline characteristics were comparable across treatment groups.1
- Overall, 32 healthy patients (active arm, n=17; control arm, n=15) were randomized into the study. In the vaccine response completers analysis, 29 patients were included (active arm, n=15; control arm, n=14) (see Figure: Reduction of Total IgG [Completers Analysis Set]).1
- The time from previous tetanus toxoid, diptheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) booster was 8 years (range, 5-16) in the control arm (n=15) compared to 9 years (range, 5-13) in the active arm (n=17).1
Pharmacodynamics – total IgG
- The observed median pre-dose (minimal) reduction in total IgG at week 4 was 65.9% in the active arm compared to an observed median increase of 8.2% in the control arm.1
- Total IgG returned to baseline level by week 16 in the control arm.
Reduction of Total IgG (Completers Analysis Set)1

Abbreviations: IgG, immunoglobulin G; IQR, interquartile range; PPSV®23, 23-polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine; Tdap, tetanus toxoid, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine.
Anti-Vaccine Antibody Responses
- All patients showed a response to the Tdap Vaccine (see Figure: Response to T-cell-Dependent [Tdap] Vaccine [Completers Analysis Set]).1
- The proportion of patients who met criteria of positive anti-TT IgG response at week 2 and week 16 was similar in both groups:1
- Week 2: control arm (71.4%) and active arm (60%)
- Week 16: control arm (28.6%, 4/14) and active arm (40%, 6/15)
Response to T-cell-Dependent (Tdap) Vaccine (Completers Analysis Set)1

Abbreviations: IgG, immunoglobulin G; IQR, interquartile range; PPSV®23, 23-polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine; SE, standard error; Tdap, tetanus toxoid, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine; TT, tetanus.
Response to T-cell-Independent (PPSV®23) Vaccine (Completers Analysis Set)1

Abbreviations: IgG, immunoglobulin G; IQR, interquartile range; PCP, pneumococcal; PPSV®23, 23-polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine; SE, standard error; Tdap, tetanus toxoid, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine.
Serotype-specific Anti-PCP IgG Response
Serotype-Specific Anti-PCP IgG Response (Completers analysis Set)1

Abbreviations: IgG, immunoglobulin G; ns, not significant; PPSV®23, 23-polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine; Tdap, tetanus toxoid, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine.
aNormal response is defined as 70% of the serotypes with protective levels >1.3 mg/mL and a ≥2-fold increase in antibody levels.
b70% is defined as 16 out of 23 analysed serotypes.
Post-hoc Analysis
Yu et al (2024)2 conducted a post-hoc analysis to assess the impact of IMAAVY on pre-existing clinically relevant anti-vaccine antibodies and antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection.
Study Design
- IRIS-RA is a phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled, parallel-group study, that investigated the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of IMAAVY in patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inadequate response or intolerance to ≥1 antitumor necrosis factor agent.3
- Patients (≥18 years of age) were randomized (3:2) to receive either IMAAVY
- 15 mg/kg intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks or a PBO IV every 2 weeks from weeks 0 to 10 (see Figure: IRIS-RA study).2
- The study included a screening period, a double-blind treatment period (weeks 0–12) and a safety/PD follow-up period (weeks 12–18).3
- The goal of the post-hoc analysis was to assess the impact of IMAAVY on pre-existing clinically relevant anti-vaccine antibodies and antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection.2
- The IMAAVY treatment significantly and reversibly reduced total IgG levels in patients with RA (see Figure: Observed Pre-dose (Minimal) Reduction in Total IgG in Patients with RA).2
- Based on PK/PD modeling based simulations for IMAAVY 15 mg/kg IV administered every 2 weeks, median steady-state IgG reduction was predicted to be a maximum of 75% with a pre-dose (trough) of 64.5%.
IRIS-RA Study2

Abbreviations: IV, intravenously; n, number of patients; R, randomization; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.
Observed Pre-Dose (minimal) Reduction in Total IgG in Patients with RA2

Abbreviations: IgG, immunoglobulin G; IQR, interquartile range; RA, rheumatoid arthritis
Results
- IMAAVY-treated patients were able to mount IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.2
- Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection during IMAAVY treatment mounted IgG responses against spike protein S1 receptor-binding domain (S1 RBD), and nucleocapsid.
- Four patients developed SARS-CoV-2 infections during the study (see Figure: Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection).
- Of the 4 patients with RA who developed SARS-CoV-2 infections during the study, 3 had mild infections, and 1 had a moderate infection. All resolved without complications.
Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection2

Abbreviations: AU, arbitrary unit; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; IgG, immunoglobulin G; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; S1 RBD, spike protein S1 receptor‐binding domain; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- Patients treated with IMAAVY were able to mount IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.2
- Clinical experience in COVID-19 suggests that antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection are variable in magnitude and duration.
- Two patients with RA who received SARS-CoV-2 vaccination during IMAAVY treatment elicited IgG responses against spike protein and S1 RBD only (see Figure: Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination).
- There were no SARS-CoV-2 infection reported for these patients.
Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination2

Abbreviations: AU, arbitrary unit; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; IgG, immunoglobulin G; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; S1 RBD, spike protein S1 receptor‐binding domain; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Literature Search
A literature search of Ovid MEDLINE®, Embase®, BIOSIS Previews®, and Derwent Drug File databases (and/or other resources, including internal/external databases) was conducted on 16 December 2024.
1 | Cossu M, Mendez CB, Jackson A, et al. A randomized, open-label study on the effect of nipocalimab on vaccine responses in healthy participants. presented at: American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine; October 15-18,2024; Savannah, Georgia. |
2 | Yu F, Myshkin E, Mendez CB, et al. Post-hoc analysis of clinically relevant anti-vaccine antibodies in participants treated with nipocalimab. presented at: American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine; October 15, 2024; Savannah, GA. |
3 | Taylor PC, Schett G, Huizinga TW, et al. Nipocalimab, an anti-FcRn monoclonal antibody, in participants with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response or intolerance to anti-TNF therapy: results from the phase 2a IRIS-RA study. RMD Open. 2024;10(2):19. |