2.1 Dose and Schedule

After reconstitution, a single dose of HIBERIX is either 0.5 mL or approximately 0.5 mL depending on the presentation [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

HIBERIX is administered as a 4-dose series. The series consists of a primary immunization course of 3 doses administered at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, followed by a booster dose administered at 15 through 18 months of age. The first dose may be given as early as 6 weeks of age.

2.2 Presentations and Reconstitution

HIBERIX is supplied in 2 presentations as follows:

Vial and Vial Presentation

The vial and vial presentation includes a vial of Lyophilized Antigen Component and a vial of Sterile Saline Diluent.

Vial and Prefilled Syringe Presentation

The vial and prefilled syringe presentation includes a vial of Lyophilized Antigen Component and a prefilled syringe of Sterile Saline Diluent.

For both presentations reconstitute the Lyophilized Antigen Component only with the accompanying Sterile Saline Diluent to form HIBERIX.

Instructions for Vial and Vial Presentation

Figure 1. Cleanse both vial stoppers. Using a graduated syringe, withdraw 0.6 mL of Sterile Saline Diluent from accompanying vial.	Figure 2. Transfer 0.6 mL Sterile Saline Diluent into Lyophilized Antigen Component vial.	Figure 3. Shake the vial well until the powder is completely dissolved.	Figure 4. After reconstitution, withdraw 0.5 mL of reconstituted vaccine into the same syringe and administer intramuscularly.

Instructions for Vial and Prefilled Syringe Presentation

Figure 1. Hold the ungraduated prefilled syringe of Sterile Saline Diluent by the barrel and unscrew the syringe cap by twisting it counterclockwise. Align the needle to the axis of the syringe and attach by gently connecting the needle hub into the Luer Lock Adaptor (LLA) and rotate a quarter turn clockwise until you feel it lock.	Figure 2. Cleanse the Lyophilized Antigen Component vial stopper. Transfer the entire contents of the prefilled syringe into the vial.	Figure 3. Shake the vial well until the powder is completely dissolved.	Figure 4. After reconstitution, withdraw the entire contents of reconstituted vaccine into the same syringe and after changing the needle administer the vaccine intramuscularly.

2.3 Administration

The reconstituted vaccine should be a clear and colorless solution. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. If either of these conditions exists, the vaccine should not be administered.

Administer HIBERIX intramuscularly immediately after reconstitution.

5.1 Guillain-Barré Syndrome

If Guillain-Barré syndrome has occurred within 6 weeks of receipt of a prior vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, the decision to give any tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine, including HIBERIX, should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and possible risks.

5.2 Syncope

Syncope (fainting) can occur in association with administration of injectable vaccines, including HIBERIX. Syncope can be accompanied by transient neurological signs such as visual disturbance, paresthesia, and tonic-clonic limb movements. Procedures should be in place to avoid falling injury and to restore cerebral perfusion following syncope.

5.3 Apnea in Premature Infants

Apnea following intramuscular vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely. Decisions about when to administer an intramuscular vaccine, including HIBERIX, to infants born prematurely should be based on consideration of the individual infant’s medical status, and the potential benefits and possible risks of vaccination.

5.4 Preventing and Managing Allergic Vaccine Reactions

Prior to administration, the healthcare provider should review the patient's immunization history for possible vaccine hypersensitivity. Epinephrine and other appropriate agents used for the control of immediate allergic reactions must be immediately available should an acute anaphylactic reaction occur.

5.5 Altered Immunocompetence

Safety and effectiveness of HIBERIX in immunosuppressed children have not been evaluated. If HIBERIX is administered to immunosuppressed children, including children receiving immunosuppressive therapy, the expected immune response may not be obtained.

5.6 Interference with Laboratory Tests

Urine antigen detection may not have a diagnostic value in suspected disease due to H. influenzae type b within 1 to 2 weeks after receipt of a H. influenzae type b-containing vaccine, including HIBERIX [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].

5.7 Tetanus Immunization

Immunization with HIBERIX does not substitute for routine tetanus immunization.

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another vaccine and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. There is the possibility that broad use of HIBERIX could reveal adverse reactions not observed in clinical trials.

Across clinical trials, common solicited adverse reactions (≥20%) were pain and redness at the injection site, irritability, drowsiness, fever, loss of appetite, fussiness, and restlessness.

Study 1: In a randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted in the U.S., children were vaccinated with HIBERIX (n = 2,963), a U.S.-licensed monovalent Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (Control PRP-T) (Sanofi Pasteur SA) (n = 520), or a U.S.-licensed combined Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed, Inactivated Poliovirus and Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (DTaP-IPV/Hib) (Sanofi Pasteur Ltd.) (n = 520) at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. HIBERIX and Control PRP-T (Sanofi Pasteur SA) were administered concomitantly with PEDIARIX (DTaP-HBV-IPV) [Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed, Hepatitis B (Recombinant) and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine] and Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.) with Doses 1, 2, and 3 and ROTARIX [Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral] with Doses 1 and 2. DTaP-IPV/Hib was administered concomitantly with PCV13 and ENGERIX-B [Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant)] with Doses 1, 2, and 3 and ROTARIX with Doses 1 and 2. If a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine was received, ENGERIX-B was given with Doses 1 and 3. In the total population, 51.2% were male; 61% were white, 8% were Asian, 9% were black, and 22% were other racial/ethnic groups.

In Study 1, children received a booster dose of either HIBERIX (n = 2,336), a Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (Control PRP-T) (Sanofi Pasteur SA) (n = 435), or a combined Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed, Inactivated Poliovirus and Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (DTaP-IPV/Hib) (Sanofi Pasteur Ltd.) (n = 400) at 15 to 18 months of age (mean age: 15.6 months) following primary vaccination at 2, 4, and 6 months of age with the same vaccine. The booster dose of HIBERIX and Control PRP-T (Sanofi Pasteur SA) was administered concomitantly with INFANRIX (DTaP) [Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed].

In 7 additional clinical studies, 1,008 children received HIBERIX as a booster dose following primary vaccination with either HIBERIX (n = 530), Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (Control PRP-T) (Sanofi Pasteur SA) (n = 235), Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (Merck & Co., Inc.) (n = 26), or Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.) (no longer licensed in the U.S., n = 217). None of the studies included a comparator group that received a booster dose with a U.S.-licensed Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine. Studies were conducted in Europe, Canada, and Latin America. Across these studies, the mean age of subjects at the time of booster vaccination with HIBERIX ranged from 16 to 19 months. At the time of vaccination, 172 (17.1%) subjects were aged 11 to 14 months, 642 (63.7%) subjects were aged 15 to 18 months, and 194 (19.2%) subjects were aged 19 to 25 months. Approximately half of the subjects were male. Among subjects for whom information on race/ethnicity was available, nearly all subjects were white.

In these 7 studies, HIBERIX was administered concomitantly with non-U.S. formulations (containing 2.5 mg 2-phenoxyethanol per dose as preservative) of one of the following U.S.-licensed vaccines: INFANRIX (DTaP) [Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed], KINRIX (DTaP-IPV) [Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine], or PEDIARIX (DTaP-HBV-IPV). In the studies, DTaP-IPV and DTaP-HBV-IPV were administered in dosing regimens not approved in the U.S. Some subjects received DTaP-HBV (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, not licensed in U.S.) concomitantly with HIBERIX.

Solicited Adverse Reactions

The reported frequencies of solicited local reactions and general adverse reactions from Study 1 after primary and booster vaccination are presented in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively.

In an open-label, multicenter study conducted in Germany (Study 2), 371 children received a booster dose of HIBERIX administered concomitantly with DTaP-HBV-IPV. The mean age at the time of vaccination was 16 months. Subjects in this study had previously received a primary series with either HIBERIX (n = 92), Control PRP-T (Sanofi Pasteur SA) (n = 96), or Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.) (no longer licensed in the U.S.) (n = 183). All subjects previously received 3 doses of DTaP-HBV-IPV. The reported frequencies of solicited local reactions and general adverse reactions are presented in Table 3.

Serious Adverse Reactions

In Study 1, one of 2,963 subjects who received HIBERIX and coadministered vaccines given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age experienced a serious adverse reaction which was in temporal association with vaccination and had no alternative plausible causes (convulsion on Day 14 after Dose 1). One of 2,336 subjects who received a booster dose of HIBERIX concomitantly with INFANRIX experienced a serious adverse reaction which was in temporal association with vaccination and had no alternative plausible causes (new onset febrile seizure on Day 1 after Dose 4).

In the 7 additional studies, 2 of 1,008 subjects reported a serious adverse reaction that occurred in the 31-day period following booster immunization with HIBERIX. One subject developed bilateral pneumonia 9 days post-vaccination and one subject experienced asthenia following accidental drug ingestion 18 days post-vaccination.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

In addition to reports in clinical trials for HIBERIX, the following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of HIBERIX. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to vaccination.

General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions

Extensive swelling of the vaccinated limb, injection site induration.

Immune System Disorders

Allergic reactions (including anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions), angioedema.

Nervous System Disorders

Convulsions (with or without fever), hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode (i.e., sudden onset of hypotonia, hyporesponsiveness, and pallor or cyanosis), somnolence, syncope, or vasovagal responses to injection.

Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders

Apnea [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

Rash, urticaria.

7.1 Interference with Laboratory Tests

Haemophilus b capsular polysaccharide derived from Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccines has been detected in the urine of some vaccinees.1 Urine antigen detection may not have a diagnostic value in suspected disease due to H. influenzae type b within 1 to 2 weeks after receipt of a H. influenzae type b-containing vaccine, including HIBERIX [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)].

7.2 Concomitant Vaccine Administration

In clinical studies, HIBERIX was administered concomitantly with routinely recommended pediatric vaccines [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].

7.3 Immunosuppressive Therapies

Immunosuppressive therapies, including irradiation, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, cytotoxic drugs, and corticosteroids (used in greater than physiologic doses), may reduce the immune response to HIBERIX.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness of HIBERIX in children younger than 6 weeks and in children aged 5 to 16 years have not been established.

12.1 Mechanism of Action

H. influenzae is a gram-negative coccobacillus. Most strains of H. influenzae that cause invasive disease are type b. H. influenzae type b can cause invasive disease such as sepsis and meningitis.

Specific levels of antibodies to polyribosyl-ribitol-phosphate (anti-PRP) have been shown to correlate with protection against invasive disease due to H. influenzae type b. Based on data from passive antibody studies2 and a clinical efficacy study with unconjugated Haemophilus b polysaccharide vaccine3, an anti-PRP concentration of 0.15 mcg/mL has been accepted as a minimal protective level. Data from an efficacy study with unconjugated Haemophilus b polysaccharide vaccine indicate that an anti-PRP concentration of ≥1.0 mcg/mL predicts protection through at least a 1-year period.4,5 These antibody levels have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccines, including HIBERIX.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

HIBERIX has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.

14.1 Immunological Evaluation

Primary Series Vaccination (Doses 1, 2, and 3)

The immunogenicity of HIBERIX was evaluated in a randomized, controlled trial (Study 1). HIBERIX or control vaccines were administered concomitantly with U.S.-licensed vaccines [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

Anti-PRP geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) and seroprotection rates 1 month following Dose 3 of HIBERIX, Control PRP-T (Sanofi Pasteur SA), or DTaP-IPV/Hib are presented in Table 4.

Booster Vaccination (Dose 4)

The immunogenicity of HIBERIX administered as a booster dose at 15 to 18 months of age was evaluated in a subset of children from Study 1 (n = 336) in comparison with U.S.-licensed vaccines following primary vaccination at 2, 4, and 6 months of age [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. The booster dose of HIBERIX and Control PRP-T (Sanofi Pasteur SA) was administered concomitantly with INFANRIX.

Antibodies to PRP were measured in sera obtained immediately prior to and 1 month after booster vaccination with HIBERIX or the control vaccines. Anti-PRP GMCs and seroprotection rates are presented in Table 5.

In 6 additional clinical studies, the immune response to HIBERIX administered as a booster dose was evaluated in a total of 415 children aged 12 to 23 months. At the time of vaccination, 30 children were aged 12 to 14 months, 316 children were aged 15 to 18 months, and 69 children were aged 19 to 23 months. Among subjects, 43% to 60% were male. Among subjects for whom information on race/ethnicity was available, nearly all subjects were white. None of the studies included a comparator group that received a booster dose with a U.S.-licensed Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine. Characteristics of 3 of these studies are presented in Table 6.

Antibodies to PRP were measured in sera obtained immediately prior to and 1 month after booster vaccination with HIBERIX. Geometric mean concentrations and anti-PRP seroprotection rates are presented in Table 7.

14.2 Concomitant Vaccine Administration

Primary Series Vaccination (Doses 1, 2, and 3)

In U.S. Study 1, subjects who received HIBERIX concomitantly with PEDIARIX (DTaP-HBV-IPV) and PCV13 at 2, 4, and 6 months of age had no evidence for reduced antibody responses relative to the response in control subjects administered Control PRP-T (Sanofi Pasteur SA) concomitantly with PEDIARIX (DTaP-HBV-IPV) and PCV13, to pertussis antigens (GMC to pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, and pertactin), diphtheria toxoid (antibody levels ≥0.1 IU/mL), tetanus toxoid (antibody levels ≥0.1 IU/mL), poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 (antibody levels ≥1:8 to each virus), PCV13 (antibody levels ≥0.2 mcg/mL and GMC to each serotype), or hepatitis B (anti-hepatitis B surface antigen ≥10 mIU/mL). The immune responses to PEDIARIX (DTaP-HBV-IPV) and PCV13 were evaluated 1 month following Dose 3. Subjects in both groups received ROTARIX at 2 and 4 months of age.

Booster Vaccination (Dose 4)

In U.S. Study 1, subjects who received a booster dose of HIBERIX concomitantly with INFANRIX at 15 to 18 months of age had no evidence for reduced antibody responses to pertussis antigens (GMC to pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, and pertactin), diphtheria toxoid (antibody levels ≥0.1 IU/mL), and tetanus toxoid (antibody levels ≥0.1 IU/mL), relative to the responses in control subjects administered Control PRP-T (Sanofi Pasteur SA) concomitantly with INFANRIX.

In 7 additional studies, a booster dose of HIBERIX was administered concomitantly with non-U.S. formulations of INFANRIX, KINRIX, and PEDIARIX. Non-U.S. formulations of KINRIX and PEDIARIX were administered in dosing regimens not approved in the U.S.

Sufficient data are not available to confirm lack of interference in immune responses to vaccines other than INFANRIX administered concomitantly with a booster dose of HIBERIX.

16.1 Storage before Reconstitution

Lyophilized Antigen Component vials: Store refrigerated between 2° and 8°C (36° and 46°F). Protect vials from light.

Sterile Saline Diluent prefilled syringes and vials: Store refrigerated or at controlled room temperature between 2° and 25°C (36° and 77°F). Do not freeze. Discard if the diluent has been frozen.