Wyeth announces phase III results for pneumococcal disease

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has released details of its phase III results for a pneumococcal vaccine aimed at treating children under three years of age.

The data includes the results from three phase III trials and a separate pivotal trial for the investigational 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13).

Results suggest PCV13 may offer broader protection against pneumococcal disease (PD) in infants and young children, when compared to Prevnar, Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine (Diphtheria CRM197 Protein).

The candidate vaccine includes the 13 most common pneumococcal serotypes associated with serious PD.

Emilio Emini, executive vice-president of vaccine research and development at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, said PCV13 could represent a new ability to address a presently unmet need.

“Based on the known prevalence of pneumococcal serotypes, it is estimated that the candidate vaccine has the potential to cover up to 92 per cent of invasive PD in infants and young children worldwide,” he added.

He went on to describe PD as a “global burden”; it is the top vaccine-preventable cause of death in children younger than five years of age, according to the World Health Organisation.

Wyeth also offers products in the areas of women’s health care, infectious disease, gastrointestinal health, central nervous system, inflammation, transplantation, haemophilia, oncology, vaccines and nutritional products.