A polyvalent Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine (MemVac A, C, Y &W-135) that covers sero-groups A, C, Y and W-135 has been developed by Transgene Biotek of Hyderabad in collaboration with JN International Medical Corporation, based in Nebraska, USA. The vaccine is very close to commercialization, Srinivas Kollipara, vice-president, Transgene, told Pharmabiz.

As per the WHO, the current need is for a polyvalent vaccine covering these four sero-groups, but there are only two companies in the world manufacturing this quadrivalent vaccine worldwide at present.

Srinivas added, "Transgene was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) of the US to conduct phase III trials of MemVac A, C, Y &W-135 in Niger and Burkina Faso, and the trials are on. Initial data from these trials is very promising. It was decided to conduct trials in these two countries, situated in the so-called "Meningitis Belt" in Central Africa, in order to provide better and more relevant protective and epidemiological data about the efficacy of the Meningitis vaccine".

Explosive epidemics of Meningococcal Meningitis regularly hit sub-Saharan Africa and incidence rates of up to 1,000 cases per 1,00,000 inhabitants have been reported. Fatality rates are often as high as 15 per cent of people infected and 10 to 15 per cent of those survive meningococcal meningitis suffer from significant neurological sequelae, including mental disorders, deafness, palsies and seizures. Extensive tissue necrosis, sometimes resulting in amputations, might also occurs, he informed.

In 1996, an epidemic involving several West African countries caused approximately 250,000 cases and 25,000 deaths. Globally, about 500,000 cases and 50,000 deaths are caused by this pathogen each year. Hence vaccines against Meningococcal Meningitis are one of the top priorities for the WHO, UNICEF and other such organizations.

According to the WHO, the African continent itself requires 500 million doses of meningitis vaccine per year. Transgene Biotek has initiated negotiations with several countries and other international agencies to supply several million doses of this vaccine.

He told that new conjugate vaccines have also been developed and will commence animal trials shortly. The launching of these conjugate vaccines should significantly boost sales due to their ability to reach the infant population, unlike current M. Meningitis vaccines.

The technology for a Sero-group B vaccine has already been developed. Animal trials on this sero-group B vaccine have been completed, and human trials are due to start soon. The commercial launch of this vaccine is expected during the year 2006. Currently, there is no commercially available vaccine for this sero-group, he added.