Pfizer’s Prevenar 13 approved for multi-dose vial presentation

Pfizer has been granted European regulatory approval for a new presentation of its pneumococcal disease vaccine Prevenar 13.

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has approved the new four-dose multi-dose vial presentation of Prevenar 13, which offers efficiency benefits for healthcare workers.

This convenient new option can help to significantly reduce storage requirements and shipping costs in communities with health systems that are still developing, particularly in terms of minimising temperature-controlled supply chain requirements.

It means that a box that once carried enough vaccine to help protect 50 infants and children can now potentially vaccinate up to 200.

Dr William Gruber, senior vice-president for vaccine clinical research and development at Pfizer, said: "This multi-dose presentation of Prevenar 13 demonstrated a favorable safety profile and immune responses to help protect children from invasive pneumococcal disease due to serotypes contained in the vaccine."

The firm will now submit the new Prevenar 13 presentation to the World Health Organization for prequalification, which will help improve access to the vaccine worldwide.