COLLEGEVILLE, Pa--11 May--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest
Candidate vaccine designed to protect against the 13 most prevalent serotypes associated with pneumococcal disease
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted priority review to the company's Biologic License Application (BLA) for Prevnar 13*, Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine (Diphtheria CRM(197) Protein), which was submitted on March 31. Priority review designation is given to products that, if approved, would be a significant therapeutic or public health advance. Based on this designation, Wyeth expects a regulatory decision
Wyeth is seeking an indication in the U.S. for Prevnar 13 for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and otitis media caused by the 13 serotypes included in the investigational vaccine in children aged two months through five years. Seven of these serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F) are included in Prevnar(R), Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine (Diphtheria CRM(197) Protein) - the current global standard in PD prevention in infants and young children. The six additional serotypes (1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F
"Since its launch in 2000, our 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine, Prevnar, has significantly reduced the incidence of pneumococcal disease among infants and young children in the United States. Recently, however, disease due to pneumococcal serotypes not found in Prevnar, particularly serotype 19A, have increased in prevalence in many regions of the world, and are a significant public health concern," says Emilio Emini, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Vaccine Research and Development, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. "Prevnar 13, which
The Prevnar 13* submission to the FDA includes data from 13 Phase 3 studies, involving more than 7,000 infants and young children. The Company initiated its global pediatric filings in late 2008 and, to
Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal disease is complex and describes a group of illnesses, all caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumococcal disease affects both children and adults, and includes invasive infections such as bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as well as pneumonia and otitis media (middle ear infection).
Following the inclusion of Prevnar(R) into the routine pediatric immunization schedule in the United States, there has been a 98 percent (95% CI: 97%-99%) reduction in vaccine-type IPD and a 77 percent reduction in all IPD among children younger than 5 years of age through 2005, compared with a pre-licensure baseline. In addition, the incidence of disease caused by the seven conjugate vaccine serotypes declined 55 percent (95% CI: 51%-58%) among adults 50 years of age or older, an unvaccinated group. The Centers for
Most recently, serotype 19A, which is included in the candidate vaccine, has been increasing in prevalence in many regions of the world and is frequently resistant to antibiotics. In fact, serotype 19A has emerged as the predominant invasive pneumococcal serotype in the United States.
Prevnar, Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine (Diphtheria CRM(197) Protein), is indicated for active immunization of infants and toddlers against serious invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, including bacteremia (bloodstream infection) and meningitis (infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) caused by the seven serotypes in the vaccine. The seven serotypes (strains) of S. pneumoniae included in the vaccine (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F) are the strains
Prevnar is also indicated for immunization of infants and toddlers against otitis media (ear infections) caused by the seven serotypes included in the vaccine. Protection against ear infections is expected to be less than that for invasive disease.
As with any vaccine, Prevnar may not protect all individuals receiving the vaccine from serious invasive disease cause by S. pneumoniae. This vaccine should not be used for treatment of active infection.
Risks are associated with all vaccines, including Prevnar. Hypersensitivity to any vaccine component, including diphtheria toxoid, is a contraindication to its use. Prevnar does not protect 100% of children
About Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, has leading products in the areas of women's health care, infectious disease, gastrointestinal health, central nervous system, inflammation, transplantation, hemophilia, oncology, vaccines and nutritional products.
Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products, nutritionals and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company's major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. In particular, clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations, and the views of regulatory agencies, medical and scientific experts and others may differ from ours. There can be no assurance that Prevnar 13 will ever receive regulatory approval or be successfully developed and commercialized. Other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, among others, risks related to our proposed merger with Pfizer, including satisfaction of the conditions of the proposed merger on the proposed timeframe or at all, contractual restrictions on the conduct of our business included in the merger agreement, and the
SOURCE: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
CONTACT: Media, Lili Gordon of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
+1-484-865-6671; or
Douglas Petkus
+1-973-660-5218, or
Investors, Justin Victoria
+1-973-660-5340
both of Wyeth
--Distributed by AsiaNet ( www.asianetnews.net )--
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), announced today that the European Medicines Agency's (EMEA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion for the company's pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Prevenar 13* (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine [13-valent Adsorbed]). The CHMP recommends approval of Prevenar 13 for active immunization of children aged 6 weeks to 5 years for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease, as well as