Novartis reports “excellent immune response” for Menveo

Novartis has reported new clinical data for its development meningitis vaccine Menveo showing an excellent immune response in infants as young as six months of age.

The vaccine was shown to provide broad immune response against four common serogroups (types) of meningococcal meningitis – a potentially fatal bacteria disease where membrane around the brain and spinal cord inflames.

Nearly 200 infants received either two doses of Menveo at ages six and 12 months or one dose at age 12 months, with both sets showing robust immune response against serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y after one month.

Joerg Reinhardt, chief executive office of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, highlighted that Menveo was shown to be well-tolerated and generates high immune responses across all age groups.

“Novartis is rapidly developing this vaccine in a broad range of ages as an effective new option against meningitis and expects to make regulatory submissions in 2008,” he added.

Study data was presented at the 5th World Congress of The World Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases in Bangkok.

Earlier this month, Novartis reported new clinical data that further confirmed the efficacy of its oral medicine Galvus in type 2 diabetes treatment.