New meningitis vaccine shows promise for infants in landmark trial

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Cohort I: 6 months of age (180 to 209 days of age) on the day of the first study visit * Cohort II: 6-8 weeks of age (42 to 62 days of age) on the day of the first study visit * Healthy infants as determined by medical history, physical examination, and judgment of the Investigator * Participant and parent/ legally acceptable representative (LAR) are able to attend all scheduled visits and to comply with all study procedures * Cohort I: Z-score ≥ -2 SD on the Weight-for-age table of the WHO Child Growth Standards. * Cohort II: Born at full term of pregnancy (≥ 37 weeks) and with a birth weight ≥ 2.5 kg. Exclusion Criteria: Participants are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply: * Known or suspected congenital or acquired immunodeficiency\*; or receipt of immunosuppressive therapy, such as anti-cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy, within the preceding 6 months; or long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy (prednisone or equivalent for more than 2 consecutive weeks within the past 3 months). \*Note: Participants with a history of HIV but without evident severe immunosuppression can be included. * Family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency, until the immune competence of the potential vaccine recipient is demonstrated. * Individuals with active tuberculosis. * History of meningococcal infection, confirmed either clinically, serologically, or microbiologically. * At high risk for meningococcal infection during the study (specifically, but not limited to, participants with persistent complement deficiency, with anatomic or functional asplenia, or participants travelling to countries with high endemic or epidemic disease). * History of intussusception. * History of any neurologic disorders, including any seizures and progressive neurologic disorders. * History of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). * Known systemic hypersensitivity to any of the vaccine components, or history of a life-threatening reaction to the vaccine(s) used in the study or to a vaccine containing any of the same substances, including neomycin, gelatin, and yeast. * Verbal report of thrombocytopenia, as reported by the parent/LAR, contraindicating IM vaccination in the Investigator's opinion. * Bleeding disorder, or receipt of anticoagulants in the 3 weeks preceding inclusion, contraindicating IM vaccination in the Investigator's opinion. * Chronic illness (including, but not limited to, cardiac disorders, congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, renal disorders, auto-immune disorders, diabetes, psychomotor diseases, and known congenital or genetic diseases) that, in the opinion of the Investigator, is at a stage where it might interfere with study conduct or completion. * Moderate or severe acute illness/infection (according to Investigator judgment) on the day of vaccination or febrile illness (temperature ≥ 38.0°C). A prospective participant should not be included in the study until the condition has resolved or the febrile event has subsided. * Receipt of any vaccine in the 4 weeks preceding the first study vaccination (except for Bacille Calmette-Guérin \[BCG\], birth dose OPV and birth dose of HepB vaccine) or planned receipt of any vaccine in the 4 weeks following each study vaccination except for the following vaccinations, which may be received at least 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after any study vaccination. This exception includes monovalent pandemic influenza vaccines, multivalent influenza vaccines, any COVID-19 vaccines, and administration of OPV on National Immunization Day in India. * Previous vaccination against meningococcal disease with either the study vaccine or another vaccine (ie, mono- or polyvalent, polysaccharide, or conjugate meningococcal vaccine containing serogroups A, C, Y, or W; or meningococcal B serogroup-containing vaccine). * For Cohort II: Previous vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis (other than birth dose of OPV), Hepatitis A, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella; and of Hib, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and/or RV infection or disease. * For Cohort II: Previous vaccination with more than 1 dose of HepB vaccine. * Receipt of immune globulins, blood, or blood-derived products in the past 3 months. * Receipt of oral or injectable antibiotic therapy within 72 hours prior to the first blood draw. * Participation at the time of study enrollment (or in the 4 weeks preceding the first study vaccination) or planned participation during the present study period in another clinical study investigating a vaccine, drug, medical device, or medical procedure. * Identified as a natural or adopted child of the Investigator or employee with direct involvement in the proposed study.