- Meningitis vaccine recommended in US
- 5-in-1 vaccine should increase adoption
- Extended age group for RSV vaccine
GSK (GSK) announced the advisory committee of the US CDC (Centre for Disease Control and prevention) had voted to recommend its 5-in-1 meningococcal vaccine Penmenvy to help protect persons over 10-years of age against different strains of meningitidis.
Broad coverage against the disease in one vaccine reduces the number of injections and helps to improve vaccination rates, in turn protecting more US adolescents and young adults said GSK.
If adopted as an official CDC recommendation, a single dose of the vaccine could be administered as an alternative to the current practice of giving two separate doses covering meningococcal groups Men ACWY and Men B on the same clinical visit.
Chief scientific officer at GSK, Tony Wood, commented: ‘We welcome this positive recommendation that can help strengthen disease prevention efforts in the US.
‘Pentavalent vaccines can reduce the number of injections required to help protect against invasive meningococcal disease - especially disease caused by serogroup B. Their use could improve immunisation rates among adolescents and young adults in the US, who are at an age with increased risk.’
FIGHTING LOW ADOPTION RATES
Men B is the leading cause of IMD (invasive meningococcal disease) among the younger population, yet less than 13% of 17-year-olds received the two-dose vaccination series and around a third received at least one dose in 2023 according to CDC survey data.
GSK said because it currently manufactures three out four Men B doses administered in the US, it is well positioned to lead in the US market given Men B vaccination schedules must be completed with the same manufacturer.
On Wednesday (16 April), the advisory panel of the CDC recommended extending the age group eligible to receive GSK’s RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine to at-risk adults aged 50 to 59.
Previously the vaccine was recommended for at-risk adults aged 60 to 74 and those over 75 years of age.
If the recommendation is adopted by the CDC, it would mean around 30% of adults in the lower age group would be eligible for the RSV vaccine according to expert Michael Melgar.
However, the two positive pieces of news failed to lift GSK shares, which fell 1.6% to £13.23. Pharmaceutical shares have been under a cloud in recent weeks after US President Trump said tariffs on the sector were ‘coming soon’.
