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Pneumococcal disease vaccine submitted for marketing

01 Apr 2009

A vaccine designed to protect against pneumococcal disease-associated serotypes has been submitted for marketing authorisation by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Prevnar 13 Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine uses a protein that has a two-decade history in paediatric products of this type.

Wyeth already manufactures Prevnar and said this has proven effectiveness and clinical efficacy already.

"If approved, [Prevnar 13] will provide coverage for the 13 most prevalent pneumococcal serotypes associated with pneumococcal disease, including serotype 19A, which has emerged as a serious public health threat," explained Wyeth Pharmaceuticals vaccine research and development executive vice-president Emilio Emini.

According to the company, over 7,000 infants and young children were involved in the phase III studies for the development of Prevnar 13.

Pneumococcal disease can infect the lungs and the bloodstream and cause septicaemia, meningitis or more extreme pneumonia.

According to the NHS, it is becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics across the globe, despite there being about 90 types of Streptococcus pneumonia.