Longitudinal changes in measles antibody titers in plasma donors and minimum antibody levels of immunoglobulin products for treatment of primary immunodeficiency

Abstract

Background: To ensure that immunoglobulin (Ig) products have adequate functional antibody, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that Ig lots contain minimum levels of measles neutralizing antibody; the current minimum is 0.48 x US Reference Ig 176.

Study design and methods: In the first part of the study, measles antibody titers were measured in donor plasma samples collected in 2007, 2011, and 2017. In the second part, trough or steady-state serum levels of measles neutralizing antibody were measured in two studies of patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) who were treated with intravenous (Study 1; N = 46) or subcutaneous (Study 2; N = 18) Ig replacement therapy, meeting previous requirements for lot potency (≥0.6 x US Reference Ig 176). Serum measles neutralizing antibody titers were then estimated for conditions in which the potency of the Ig replacement product was 0.48 or 0.30 x US Reference Ig 176.

Results: Measles antibody titers in donated plasma samples declined in donors born after 1963. In the two studies of patients with PID who were treated with intravenous or subcutaneous Ig replacement therapy, all patients exhibited trough (intravenous Ig) or steady-state (subcutaneous Ig) measles neutralizing antibody titers above 0.12 IU/mL, which has been shown to protect against clinical measles in the general population. Estimates suggest that all patients except one would have continued to meet this standard if the Ig lot potency had been 0.48 or 0.30 x US Reference Ig 176.

Conclusion: These studies provide supporting evidence that the lot release specification can be safely lowered from 0.48 to 0.30 x US Reference Ig 176, which will accommodate declining measles neutralizing antibody levels in donor plasma.