Meningococcal Vaccines March 2023
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations were updated on June 23, 2022. There are two types of meningococcal vaccines licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States: Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccines and Serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccines. The 2023 vaccination schedules for adolescents and young adults include a MenACWY vaccine and a separate MenB vaccine (four doses) to protect against meningococcal disease.
More than 350 million people in 24 high-risk African countries have received the MenAfriVac vaccine since 2010.
Meningococcal Vaccines U.S. CDC
The U.S. CDC's ACIP Meningococcal Vaccine meeting on February 23, 2023, included Introduction, Dr. Kathy Poehling; Epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the U.S., Ms. Amy Rubis; Pfizer pentavalent meningococcal vaccine, Dr. Jason Maguire; Workgroup considerations, Dr. Sam Crowe. The ACIP Meningococcal Vaccines Work Group meeting on October 20, 2022, led by Katherine Poehling, MD, MPH Work Group Chair, presented an overview and Plan for Assessing the MenABCWY Vaccines.
Quadrivalent Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) Vaccines
Menactra vaccine is for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135. Menactra vaccine is approved for use in persons nine months through 55.
Menveo® vaccine is indicated for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135. Menveo is approved for use in persons two months through 55.
MenQuadfi® vaccine is indicated for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W, and Y. MenQuadfi is approved for use in individuals two years of age and older.
Serogroup B Meningococcal (MenB) Vaccines
Trumenba vaccine is for active immunization to prevent invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. Trumenba is approved for individuals 10-25 years of age.
Bexsero® is a vaccine to prevent invasive diseases caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. Bexsero was approved for use in 2015 for individuals 10 through 25.
Two additional licensed meningococcal vaccines are no longer available in the United States: 1) a quadrivalent (serogroups A, C, W, and Y) meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) (Menomune – A/C/Y/W-135) and 2) a combined Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal serogroups C and Y conjugate vaccine (Hib-MenCY-TT) (MenHibrix).
Meningococcal Vaccine Candidates
Pfizer's investigational pentavalent meningococcal vaccine (MenABCWY) candidate is conducting a phase 3 clinical trial. Jason D. Maguire, MD, MPH Clinical Lead, Phase 3 Program Pfizer Vaccines Clinical R&D, presented an update on February 23, 2023.
GSK’s MenABCWY vaccine candidate combines the antigenic components of its licensed meningococcal vaccines, Bexsero and Menveo.
Meningococcal Vaccine Market Size
According to a Comprehensive Research Report published on September 7, 2022, the Meningococcal Vaccines Market may reach about U.S. $5.91 billion by 2030.
Meningitis Outbreaks
Together, five serogroups (A, B, C, W, and Y) account for 96% of all invasive meningococcal disease cases worldwide, with serogroup B accounting for most diseases in adolescents and young adolescent adults in the U.S. and Europe, reports the U.S. NIH. The WHO Africa and its partners announced on September 6, 2022, they have launched a roadmap aimed at stopping bacterial meningitis outbreaks by 2030, urging countries to implement it rapidly before the start of the meningitis season in January 2023.
Meningococcal Vaccine News 2023
March 16, 2023 - GSK plc confirmed positive results from a phase 3 clinical trial evaluating its MenABCWY combination vaccine candidate.
February 8, 2023 - The WHO confirmed a vaccination campaign was recently launched in areas of Niger.
February 2, 2023 - Results from a matched case-control study into four-component, protein-based meningococcal serogroup B (4CMenB) were found to be effective in preventing invasive disease by serogroup B and non–serogroup B meningococci in children younger than 5 years of age.
December 28, 2022 - The U.S. FDA accepted for review the Biologics License Application for Pfizer's Investigational Pentavalent Meningococcal Vaccine Candidate (MenABCWY) in Adolescents.
September 15, 2022 - Pfizer Inc. announced positive top-line results from the pivotal Phase 3 trial assessing the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of its investigational pentavalent meningococcal vaccine (MenABCWY) in healthy individuals 10 through 25 years of age. The trial met all primary and secondary endpoints. In addition, the investigational vaccine demonstrated non-inferiority to licensed vaccines for the five meningococcal serogroups that cause the most invasive meningococcal disease: serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y.
June 22, 2022 - The U.S. CDC continues collaborating with the Florida Department of Health to investigate an outbreak of meningococcal disease among men. At least 24 cases and six deaths among gay and bisexual men have been reported. In response to this outbreak, CDC is recommending gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men get a meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) if they live in Florida or talk with their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated if they are traveling to Florida.
