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Bowman CJ, Bouressam M, Campion SN, Cappon GD, Catlin NR, Cutler MW, Diekmann J, Rohde CM, Sellers RS, Lindemann C. Lack of effects on female fertility and prenatal and postnatal offspring development in rats with BNT162b2, a mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 103:28-35. [PMID: 34058573 PMCID: PMC8163337 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BNT162b2 is a vaccine developed to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). BNT162b2 is a lipid nanoparticle formulated nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein locked in its prefusion conformation. A developmental and reproductive toxicity study was conducted in rats according to international regulatory guidelines. The full human BNT162b2 dose of 30 μg mRNA/dose (>300 times the human dose on a mg/kg basis) was administered intramuscularly to 44 female rats 21 and 14 days prior to mating and on gestation days 9 and 20. Half of the rats were subject to cesarean section and full fetal examination at the end of gestation, and the other half were allowed to deliver and were monitored to the end of lactation. A robust neutralizing antibody response was confirmed prior to mating and at the end of gestation and lactation. The presence of neutralizing antibodies was also confirmed in fetuses and offspring. Nonadverse effects, related to the local injection site reaction, were noted in dams as expected from other animal studies and consistent with observations in humans. There were no effects of BNT162b2 on female mating performance, fertility, or any ovarian or uterine parameters nor on embryo-fetal or postnatal survival, growth, physical development or neurofunctional development in the offspring through the end of lactation. Together with the safety profile in nonpregnant people, this ICH-compliant nonclinical safety data supports study of BNT162b2 in women of childbearing potential and pregnant and lactating women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Bowman
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Groton, CT, USA.
| | - Marie Bouressam
- Charles River Laboratories France Safety Assessmsent SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Sarah N Campion
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Groton, CT, USA
| | - Gregg D Cappon
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Groton, CT, USA
| | - Natasha R Catlin
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Groton, CT, USA
| | - Mark W Cutler
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Jan Diekmann
- Non-Clinical Safety, BioNTech SE, Mainz, Germany
| | - Cynthia M Rohde
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Rani S Sellers
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Pearl River, NY, USA
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Yokel RA. Aluminum reproductive toxicity: a summary and interpretation of scientific reports. Crit Rev Toxicol 2020; 50:551-593. [PMID: 32869713 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2020.1801575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Publications addressing aluminum (Al)-induced reproductive toxicity were reviewed. Key details were compiled in summary tables. Approximate systemic Al exposure, a measure of bioavailability, was calculated for each exposure, based on the Al percentage in the dosed Al species, Al bioavailability, and absorption time course reports for the exposure route. This was limited to laboratory animal studies because no controlled-exposure human studies were found. Intended Al exposure was compared to unintended dietary Al exposure. The considerable and variable Al content of laboratory animal diets creates uncertainty about reproductive function in the absence of Al. Aluminum-induced reproductive toxicity in female mice and rats was evident after exposure to ≥25-fold the amount of Al consumed in the diet. Generally, the additional daily Al systemic exposure of studies that reported statistically significant results was greater than 100-fold above the typical human daily Al dietary consumption equivalent. Male reproductive endpoints were significantly affected after exposure to lower levels of Al than females. Increased Al intake increased fetus, placenta, and testes Al concentrations, to a greater extent in the placenta than fetus, and, in some cases, more in the testes than placenta. An adverse outcome pathway (AOP) was constructed for males based on the results of the reviewed studies. The proposed AOP includes oxidative stress as the molecular initiating event and increased malondialdehyde, DNA and spermatozoal damage, and decreased blood testosterone and sperm count as subsequent key events. Recommendations for the design of future studies of reproductive outcomes following exposure to Al are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Yokel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky Academic Medical Center, Lexington, KY, USA
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Lee J, Jeong JS, Kim SY, Lee SJ, Shin YJ, Im WJ, Kim SH, Park K, Jeong EJ, Nam SY, Yu WJ. Safety assessment of cerium oxide nanoparticles: combined repeated-dose toxicity with reproductive/developmental toxicity screening and biodistribution in rats. Nanotoxicology 2020; 14:696-710. [PMID: 32301357 DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2020.1751322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) are widely used in various commercial applications because of their characteristic properties. People can be easily exposed to CeO2 NPs in real life, but the safety assessment of CeO2 NPs has not been fully investigated. Therefore, in this study, we conducted a combined repeated-dose and reproductive/developmental toxicity screening study (OECD testing guideline 422) to investigate the potential hazards on human health, including reproductive/developmental functions, after repeated daily CeO2 NPs oral gavage administration to both males and females. In addition, tissues from parental animals and their pups were collected to analyze the internal accumulation of cerium. CeO2 NPs were orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats at doses of 0, 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg during their pre-mating, mating, gestation and early lactation periods. In the general systemic and reproductive/developmental examinations, no marked toxicities were observed in any in-life and terminal observation parameters in this study. In the biodistribution analysis, cerium was not detected in either parental or pup tissues (blood, liver, lungs and kidneys). Repeated oral exposure of CeO2 NPs did not induce marked toxicities affecting general systemic and reproductive/developmental functions up to the dose level of 1000 mg/kg and the CeO2 NPs were not systemically absorbed in parental animals or their pups. This result could be used in risk assessment for humans, and additional toxicity studies with CeO2 NPs will be necessary considering various physicochemical properties and exposure probabilities of these nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsoo Lee
- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Research Group, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Seong Jeong
- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Research Group, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Yun Kim
- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Research Group, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Jin Lee
- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Research Group, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Jun Shin
- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Research Group, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan-Jung Im
- Toxicological Pathology Research Group, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hwan Kim
- National Center for Efficacy Evaluation of Respiratory Disease Product, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea.,Department of Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwangsik Park
- College of Pharmacy, Dongduk Women's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ju Jeong
- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Research Group, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Yoon Nam
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Wook-Joon Yu
- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Research Group, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Xie J, Funk J, Bopst M, Ottaviani G, Downes N, Hackford S, Villabruna L, Schmitt G, Barrow P. An innovative investigative approach to characterize the effects observed in a combined fertility study in male and female rats. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 95:339-347. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Stewart J. The relevance of experimental reproductive studies in safety assessment. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Timing is everything for sperm assessment in fertility studies. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 64:141-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Remick AK, Catlin NR, Quist EM, Steinbach TJ, Dixon D. Juvenile Toxicology: Relevance and Challenges for Toxicologists and Pathologists. Toxicol Pathol 2015; 43:1166-71. [PMID: 26220944 PMCID: PMC4670269 DOI: 10.1177/0192623315595883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) Education Committee and the STP Reproductive Special Interest Group held a North Carolina regional meeting entitled, "Juvenile Toxicology: Relevance and Challenges for Toxicologists and Pathologists" on March 13, 2015, at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Toxicology Program in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The purpose of this regional meeting was to familiarize attendees with the topic of juvenile toxicity testing and discuss its relevance to clinical pediatric medicine, regulatory perspectives, challenges of appropriate study design confronted by toxicologists, and challenges of histopathologic examination and interpretation of juvenile tissues faced by pathologists. The 1-day meeting was a success with over 60 attendees representing industry, government, research organizations, and academia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natasha R Catlin
- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Group, Toxicology Branch, National Toxicology Program (NTP) Division, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erin M Quist
- Reproductive Endocrinology Group, National Toxicology Program Laboratory (NTPL), and NTP Pathology Group, Cellular & Molecular Pathology Branch, NTP Division, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Darlene Dixon
- Molecular Pathogenesis Group, National Toxicology Program Laboratory (NTPL), Division of the NTP, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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Cavagnaro J, Berman C, Kornbrust D, White T, Campion S, Henry S. Considerations for assessment of reproductive and developmental toxicity of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Nucleic Acid Ther 2014; 24:313-25. [PMID: 25137397 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2014.0490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
This white paper summarizes the current consensus of the Reproductive Subcommittee of the Oligonucleotide Safety Working Group on strategies to assess potential reproductive and/or developmental toxicities of therapeutic oligonucleotides (ONs). The unique product characteristics of ONs require considerations when planning developmental and reproductive toxicology studies, including (a) chemical characteristics, (b) assessment of intended and unintended mechanism of action, and (c) the optimal exposure, including dosing regimen. Because experience across the various classes of ONs as defined by their chemical backbone is relatively limited, best practices cannot be defined. Rather, points to consider are provided to help in the design of science-based reproductive safety evaluation programs based upon product attributes.
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Abstract
Relying on previous regulatory guidelines from multiple countries, the ICH S5(R2) guideline outlines the preclinical safety studies needed for registration of new medicinal products in the member countries (European Union, Japan, and the United States). The primary purpose of the guideline is to provide a testing strategy to detect and reveal toxicity to the reproductive system including development of the embryo. There are basically three study designs outlined by the guidance, assessment of fertility in adults, pre- and postnatal development of exposed offspring, and morphological evaluation following exposure during major organogenesis. This chapter discusses the major points addressed in the guidance for each study type, and points to additional references that discuss the practical details for conducting such studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L David Wise
- Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA, USA.
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Mitchard T, Jarvis P, Stewart J. Assessment of Male Rodent Fertility in General Toxicology 6-Month Studies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 95:410-20. [DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.21030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Terri Mitchard
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals; Alderley Park, Macclesfield; Cheshire; United Kingdom
| | - Philip Jarvis
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals; Alderley Park, Macclesfield; Cheshire; United Kingdom
| | - Jane Stewart
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals; Alderley Park, Macclesfield; Cheshire; United Kingdom
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