In January 2010, porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1)
DNA was unexpectedly detected in the oral live-attenuated human
rotavirus vaccine,
Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline [GSK]
Vaccines) by an academic research team investigating a novel, highly sensitive analysis not routinely used for adventitious agent screening. GSK rapidly initiated an investigation to confirm the source, nature and amount of PCV1 in the
vaccine manufacturing process and to assess potential clinical implications of this finding. The investigation also considered the manufacturer's inactivated poliovirus (IPV)-containing
vaccines, since
poliovirus vaccine strains are propagated using the same cell line as the
rotavirus vaccine strain. Results confirmed the presence of PCV1
DNA and low levels of PCV1 viral particles at all stages of the
Rotarix manufacturing process. PCV type 2
DNA was not detected at any stage. When tested in human cell lines, productive PCV1
infection was not observed. There was no immunological or clinical evidence of PCV1
infection in infants who had received
Rotarix in clinical trials. PCV1
DNA was not detected in the IPV-containing
vaccine manufacturing process beyond the purification stage. Retrospective testing confirmed the presence of PCV1
DNA in
Rotarix since the initial stages of its development and in
vaccine lots used in clinical studies conducted pre- and post-licensure. The acceptable safety profile observed in clinical trials of
Rotarix therefore reflects exposure to PCV1
DNA. The investigation into the presence of PCV1 in
Rotarix could serve as a model for risk assessment in the event of new technologies identifying adventitious agents in the manufacturing of other
vaccines and biological products.