Wyeth, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. in India, has launched Prevenar 13, an advanced pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to protect infants and young children from pneumococcus, a bacteria that causes pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. The new vaccine covers serotypes 1 and 5 that are associated with complicated pneumonia. Further, it covers serotype 19A which has globally emerged a a leading cause of pneumococcal disease in children less than 5 years of age. Currently, the cost of Prevenar 13 vaccine is Rs 3,800 in India and few emerging markets for the full 3-dose series .
The approval for Prevenar 13 is based on a review of phase III studies involving more than 7,000 infants and young children worldwide. The data from these trials support the safety and efficacy of Prevenar 13 for the prevention of invasive pneumococccal disease in infants and young children. Clinical trial data showed that Prevenar 13 can be administered with all routine paediatric vaccines.
Kewal Hand, managing director, Wyeth, said, “Prevenar 13, built on the scientific foundation of Prevenar, provides the broadest serotype coverage of any pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. It includes the seven serotypes in Prevenar plus six additional serotypes, which together represent the most prevalent invasive disease-causing strains in children.”
Dr Nitin Shah, consultant paediatrician at the P D Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, said, “Prevenar 13 covers approximately 75 per cent of disease-causing serotypes in India. Preventing this group of diseases is of utmost importance for two reasons – pneumococcal diseases are difficult to diagnose in the Indian context and, secondly, the bacteria are developing resistance to antibiotics.”
Since its launch in 2000 in US, more than 30 lakh doses of Prevenar have been distributed worldwide. It is part of the national immunization program in more than 47 countries. It is currently available in 98 countries. According to Dr Shah, more than two million children die from pneumonia every year. Only about half of children sick with pneumonia receive appropriate medical care and fewer than 20 per cent of children with pneumonia receive the recommended treatment of antibiotics.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sought the inclusion of Prevenar in the National Immunization programs of developing countries as a high priority especially where under 5 mortality is more than 50 per 1,000 live births or where more than 50,000 children die annually. In India the under five mortality is 69 per 1,000 live births and 4.10 lakh children die annually just from pneumonia.
Kewal Hand said that the Government spending on healthcare must be increase and lot of things can be done to improve health of infants and young children who are going to build healthy nation. More awareness is needed for immunization programmes and Wyeth will help to build healthy nation. The company is taking steps and discussing with government to spread awareness. At present India is on top in death from pneumonia. The company is also looking out new vaccine for adult population.
Farah Khan, film director and brand ambassador, said, “I am happy to learn that the new vaccine will provide increased protection from diseases that cause disabilities such as deafness, brain damage, seizures and death.”