Four-Strain Meningitis Vaccine Menveo Trialled
Clinical trials have highlighted the potential of a new meningitis vaccine which is designed to offer infants protection against four strains of the disease. The current generation of vaccines are ineffective against these four forms - A, C, W-135 and Y - in children below two years of age. However, according to data showcased at the World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases Congress, the new vaccine seems to offer protection for children as young as six months.
As far as experts are concerned, the new vaccine would offer most benefit to very young children living in Africa, Eastern Europe and North America.
Meningitis B and C Most Common in UK
The majority of meningitis cases recorded in the UK involved either meningitis C or B.
A vaccination against meningitis C was introduced by the government eight years ago, while one for the more prolific meningitis B is presently under trial.
However, elsewhere in the world, meningitis is prevalent in different strains. One of these, meningitis A, is the source of fatal epidemics which occur annually within the so-called "meningitis belt" - an area extending from Senegal to Ethiopia. The same variant is also becoming more widespread in Eastern Europe, while meningitis Y is increasing in North America.
Novartis' Menveo Vaccine Produced Positive Trial Results
The new vaccine is called Menveo, and is a product of drug firm Novartis. During phase II clinical trials, it generated positive immune responses in the 175 infant patients participating. Said participants were given either a a single dose at 12 months, or one at six and another at 12 months. In both cases, the infants were vaccinated against meningitis A, C, W-135 and Y.
Menveo is a conjugate vaccine, and is more capable of generating "immune memory" than the polysaccharide vaccines previously developed.
Following the success of the phase II trials, large-scale assessments are now taking place, with an application for regulatory approval anticipated to take place in 2008.
According to Oxford University's Dr Andrew Pollard - who heads the based Paediatric Infection and Immunity Laboratory - national differences in forms of meningitis can be seen. The UK, he said, is a site of mainly meningitis B. However, he added, up to 183 annual cases were caused by less common types such as -Y and -W-135.
"A vaccine that protects against any cases is worth having, although vaccination policy will vary by country depending on which strains are most common", he stated.
The Meningitis Research Foundations's Chief Executive, Chris Head, described "the prospect of broader protection against meningitis" as "tremendously encouraging." This is particularly the case, he said, "...for young children who bear the greatest burden from these deadly diseases."
Mr Head's comments were echoed by the University of Sheffield's Professor Robert Read, who highlighted the prospect of the vaccine being used in Africa. "The attack rate (in parts of Africa) can be upwards of one per 1000 so your chance of getting meningitis as a baby is incredibly high", he stressed.
"That's where this vaccine has real potential."
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Research and Development Analyst
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