hepatitis B vaccine + imiquimod

This is an investigational hepatitis B vaccination strategy developed by The University of Hong Kong to improve vaccine immunogenicity in immunocompromised populations, such as patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis or inflammatory bowel disease. The regimen consists of the intradermal administration of the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine Sci-B-Vac, preceded by the topical application of imiquimod cream. Sci-B-Vac is a third-generation vaccine containing three hepatitis B surface antigens (S, pre-S1, and pre-S2), while imiquimod is a synthetic Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist that acts as an immunological adjuvant. By activating TLR7 at the injection site, imiquimod enhances the innate immune response and promotes the production of anti-HBs antibodies, aiming to overcome the suboptimal seroprotection rates typically observed with conventional intramuscular vaccination in these high-risk groups.

Brand names

Sci-B-VacAldara

Other names

Intradermal HBVv with imiquimodIntradermal hepatitis B vaccine with imiquimod