Novartis vacc beats Menactra in Ph III trials
Swiss drug major Novartis reports its candidate Menveo (MenACWY-CRM), indicated to treat four strains of meningitis, performed better in Phase III trials than the current equivalent treatment, Menactra (meningococcal polysaccharide diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine) made by Sanofi-Pasteur, the vaccines unit of French drug major Sanofi-Aventis.
The candidate is indicated to treat the meningococcal strains A, C, W-135 and Y. Results of the head-to-head trial showed that Menveo generated higher levels of antibodies than Menactra in adolescents aged 11 to 18 years, particularly against meningitis Y, with 81% of candidates generating a protective immune response, as opposed to 54% with Menactra, according to the firm.
Novartis is currently running multiple Phase III trials of Menveo for the treatment of meningitis in infants, young children, adolescents and adults. The firm expects to submit a licence application in 2009.
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