FDA approves Pfizer’s Penbraya vaccine for meningococcal disease in teens
On Friday Pfizer announced the FDA approval of Penbraya (meningococcal groups A, B, C, W and Y vaccine) as “the first and only pentavalent vaccine that provides coverage against the most common serogroups causing meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults 10 through 25 years of age,” the company stated in a press release The vaccine combines components from meningococcal vaccines Trumenba and Nimenrix to help protect against the five most common meningococcal serogroups that cause the majority of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) globally.
“As a pioneer in vaccines, one of our goals is to deliver vaccines that evolve the paradigm and help simplify the standard of care in the U.S.,” said Annaliesa Anderson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head, Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer. “Today marks an important step forward in the prevention of meningococcal disease in the U.S. In a single vaccine, Penbraya has the potential to protect more adolescents and young adults from this severe and unpredictable disease by providing the broadest meningococcal coverage in the fewest shots.”
Although uncommon, meningococcal disease is a serious illness that can lead to death within 24 hours and, for survivors, can result in life-altering, significant long-term disabilities. Pfizer says that Penbraya reduces the total number of doses needed to be fully vaccinated against the five most common serogroups, which can streamline the standard of care, resulting in more adolescents and young adults being vaccinated.
Pfizer stated that the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet on October 25, 202 to discuss recommendations for the appropriate use of PENBRAYA in adolescents and young adults.
Reuters 
Reuters 
