Pfizer’s multi-dose vial presentation of Prevenar 13 receives WHO prequalification

Pfizer has announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified its multi-dose vial (MDV) presentation of Prevenar 13.

The awarding of WHO prequalification will allow for the global use of the four-dose version of Prevenar 13 by United Nations agencies and countries worldwide that require this prequalification status.

It has been demonstrated that Prevenar 13 could provide a number of significant benefits to developing countries, including a 75 percent reduction in temperature-controlled supply chain requirements, UNICEF shipping costs and storage requirements at a national, regional, district and community levels.

The prequalified MDV presentation is expected to be introduced under the Advance Market Commitment programme in early 2017 for shipment to countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Susan Silbermann, president and general manager at Pfizer Vaccines, said: "Pfizer is committed to continued innovation aimed at meeting the challenges of the developing world and helping to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease by providing a path for children in resource-limited countries to access a reliable supply of Prevenar 13."

This comes after the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency approved the new presentation of Prevenar 13 earlier this year.