Pfizer’s Penbraya has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first pentavalent vaccine that provides protection against the five most common serogroups causing meningococcal disease in individuals aged ten to 25 years.
Meningococcal diseasetwo vaccines authorised to protect against the disease, with Trumenba targeting meningococcal group B and Nimenrix protecting against groups A, C, W and Y. Pfizerya combines the components from both vaccines and simplifies the meningococcTrumenbanation schedule by reducing the totalNimenrixof doses needed to be fully protected against the five serogroups, potentially increasing the number of vaccinated adolescents and young adults. Penbrayas decision was supported by positive results from mid- and late-stage trials, including a phase 3 study evaluating the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of Penbraya compared to currently US-licensed meningococcal vaccines. AnnaFDAsa Anderson, senior vice president and head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer, said: “[The approval] marks an important step forward in the prevention Penbrayagococcal disease in the US. "In a single vaccine, Penbraya has the potential to protect more adolescents and young aduPfizerom this severe and unpredictable disease by providing the broadest meningococmeningococcal diseaseewest shots.” The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has noted that combining vaccines may mean that more adolescents and young adults get their recommended vaccines on time, will now meet to discuss recommendations for the appropriate use of Penbraya.
“Nearly nine out of ten adolescents have incomplete protection against invasive meningococcal disease caused by the leading serogroups,” said Jana Shaw, paediatrics infectious disease specialist at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse, US.
GSK is also developing a pentavalent vaccine against meningococcal disease, which combines the antigenic components of its approved Bexsero (MenB) and Menveo (MenACWY) meningococcal vaccines.