Pharma News Intelligence June 20, 2024
The new vaccine is thought to protect against approximately 80% of pneumococcal diseases.
Merck’s newly approved pneumococcal vaccine is expected to compete with Pfizer’s existing vaccines, pending CDC recommendations later this month. On June 17, 2024, the United States FDA approved CAPVAXIVE, a pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine that actively prevents invasive disease and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 3, 6A, 7F, 8, 9N, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15A, 15B, 15C, 16F, 17F, 19A, 20A, 22F, 23A, 23B, 24F, 31, 33F and 35B.
“Complications from invasive pneumococcal disease can lead to hospitalization, organ damage, and even death. Many cases of adult disease are caused by serotypes not included in other approved pneumococcal conjugate vaccines,” said Walter Orenstein, MD, professor emeritus of...