Merck’s Newโ Pneumococcal vaccine โขShows Promise for Children with โChronic Conditions
In a potential breakthrough โคfor vulnerable young patients, merck & Co. Inc.โค announced Thursday positive results fromโ a late-stage study โof its pneumococcal vaccine, Capvaxive, specifically targeting children and adolescents with chronicโ health issues. Teh findings, reported by Reuters, indicate the vaccine elicits strong immune responses against 21 strains of pneumococcal bacteria, which cause serious infections โlikeโข pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.
Theโ trial, involving 882 participants aged two โขto under 18-all with pre-existing vaccination records and at leastโ oneโ chronic disease-compared Capvaxive โฃto the established Pneumovax 23. Results demonstrated Capvaxive was as effective as Pneumovax 23 against the 12 bacterial strains coveredโ by both vaccines,and showed superior performance against the nine strains uniquely protected โby the newer vaccine.
“The vaccine provides extensive coverage and a โnotable immune response against additional bacterialโ strains to the existing vaccines,” a Merck statement confirmed.โค Importantly, theโ incidenceโฃ of side effectsโ wasโ comparable between the two vaccines, indicating Capvaxive is as well-tolerated as current options.
Capvaxive is currently โapproved for adult โuse in theโ united States, the European Union, and japan, with โongoing trials focused on โฃexpanding its application โto โคpediatric andโข adolescent populations. Merck’s pneumococcal vaccine portfolio also includes Vaxneuvance (approved for individuals from 6 weeks of age) and Pneumovax โฃ23 (recommended โขfor adults over โ50 and children over 2). Pfizer’sโฃ Prevnar 20,protecting against 20 strains,is also available for those over โ6 weeks old.
Pneumococcal disease โspreads through respiratory droplets and poses the greatest risk to children under five โขand adults over 65.