The primary objective was to show the non-inferiority of a primary vaccination course consisting of one dose of Tritanrix HB + Hiberix (Tritanrix HB + Hib) followed by Quinvaxem as the second and third dose versus three doses of Quinvaxem with respect to the seroprotection/seroconversion rates for all antibodies one month

after completion of a 6–10–14 week vaccination course. Safety was also evaluated. This phase IV, single-blind (observer-blinded), randomized, comparator-controlled study was conducted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Muntinlupa City, Philippines between 30 May 2011 and 30 September 2011. Prior to commencement, GPCR Compound Library the Philippines Food and Drug Administration (PFDA), and the Institutional Review BMN 673 molecular weight Board of the RITM approved the study, which was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice standards. This study was registered under ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01357720. Parents/legal

guardians gave written informed consent for all participants. Healthy children aged 42–62 weeks with a birth dose of HepB vaccination were included. Exclusion criteria included: treatment with an investigational medicinal product or parenteral immunoglobulins/blood products (since birth), planned administration of a vaccine not in the study protocol, immunodeficiency/immunosuppressive therapy, previous Hib/DTP vaccination, history of anaphylaxis/serious vaccine reaction, allergy to vaccine components, or participation in another clinical study. After screening, children were randomized sequentially 1:1 to receive either one 0.5 mL dose of Tritanrix HB + Hib followed by two 0.5 mL doses of Quinvaxem (Tritanrix through HB + Hib + Quinvaxem group) or three 0.5 mL doses of Quinvaxem (Quinvaxem only group), according to a randomization

schedule using sealed envelopes. Vaccine preparation and administration were performed by independent personnel to maintain observer blinding (investigator). Tritanrix HB + Hib was composed of Hiberix (lot number: A72CA647B) reconstituted using a liquid suspension of Tritanrix HB (lot number: AT15B656BD, both GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals). After reconstitution, a 0.5 mL dose contained ≥30 IU diphtheria toxoid, ≥60 IU tetanus toxoid, ≥4 IU inactivated Bordetella pertussis, 10 μg Hib polysaccharide conjugated to tetanus toxoid (∼25 μg) as a carrier, and 10 μg HBsAg. Each 0.5 mL dose of Quinvaxem (lot number: 0451523, Berna Biotech Korea Corporation) contained ≥30 IU diphtheria toxoid, ≥60 IU tetanus toxoid, ≥4 IU inactivated B. pertussis, 10 μg Hib polysaccharide conjugated to CRM197 protein (∼25 μg), and 10 μg HBsAg. Study vaccines were administered intramuscularly into the anterolateral thigh using a tuberculin syringe (length 16 mm) according to the local 6–10–14-week EPI schedule (visits 1–3, respectively).