Novartis receives EU approval for meningitis vaccine Bexsero

Novartis has announced that the European Commission has approved its new vaccine Bexsero, which offers protection against meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) disease among patients aged two months and older.

MenB disease is a bacterial infection and is the leading cause of meningitis across Europe, particularly among infants, with Bexsero being the first vaccine to be approved for its prevention.

This approval follows more than 20 years of pioneering research and the publication of data from a comprehensive clinical programme that has demonstrated the drug's tolerability profile and immunogenicity among patients of all ages.

Andrin Oswald, division head for Novartis' vaccines and diagnostics division, said: "Our vision is a world without meningitis and our priority is to work with decision makers across Europe to ensure there is broad and timely access to vaccination."

This comes after the company also recently received a Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommendation for European approval of the acute gouty arthritis therapy Ilaris and the vitreomacular traction treatment Jetrea earlier this month.