New data suggest Novartis' Menveo could be first four-strain infant meningitis vacc

Novartis' Menveo has been shown to protect infants against four of the most common causes of meningococcal disease. Using a schedule beginning at two months of age, Menveo is the only vaccine against the potentially fatal bacterial condition to protect against a broad range of serogroups in infants, noted the Swiss drug major.

According to the firm, new data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association show that Menveo was well-tolerated and generated high levels of immunogenicity in infants against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y with a standard infant vaccination dosing schedule.

Infants have the highest rate of meningococcal disease, a potentially deadly bacterial infection. However, Novartis noted that no currently-available quadrivalent vaccine including Menomune and Menactra has demonstrated a strong and lasting immune response for this high-risk age group. Both rival agents are made by Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines unit of French drug major Sanofi-Aventis.