DTaP-IPV-Hep B-Hib vaccine (Hexaxim®) : a review of its use in primary and booster vaccination.

Hexaxim(®) (DTaP-IPV-Hep B-Hib) is a new, thiomersal-free, fully liquid, hexavalent combination pediatric vaccine containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliovirus, recombinant hepatitis B virus surface antigen produced in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha, and Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide (polyribosylribitol phosphate) conjugated to tetanus toxoid. It is currently registered in markets outside of the EU for primary vaccination of infants from 6 weeks of age and for booster vaccination up to 24 months of age. In randomized controlled trials, primary vaccination of infants with Hexaxim(®) using various immunization schedules was highly immunogenic for all vaccine component antigens regardless of the administration schedule, producing high levels of seroprotection or seroconversion for each antigen. Hexaxim(®) was as immunogenic as the comparator DTwP- or DTaP-based vaccines in these studies. The serological responses were generally sustained at high levels over a follow-up of ≈1 year, and booster vaccination at 15-18 months further enhanced the immune response. Hexaxim(®) was less reactogenic than a DTwP-based combination vaccine, and displayed a tolerability profile similar to those of the comparator DTaP-based combination vaccines. Thus, Hexaxim(®) provides effective seroprotection or seroconversion against six major childhood diseases simultaneously, both as primary and booster vaccination, and offers the benefits and convenience of a fully liquid, ready-to-use vaccine.