Pfizer Pneumonia Vaccine Study Meets Clinical Objectives

   By Everdeen Mason 
 

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) said a clinical study of its pneumonia vaccine treatment for older adults showed the immunization prevented several kinds of community-acquired pneumonia.

Pfizer's Prevnar 13 is a vaccine meant to prevent pneumococcal diseases, or illnesses caused by s. pneumoniae bacteria, which occur when the bacteria enters the bloodstream or causes an infection in the lungs.

The Prevnar 13 trial tested the effectiveness of the vaccine in 85,000 patients aged 65 or older against pneumonia, which Pfizer said makes it the largest double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled vaccine efficacy trial conducted in adults.

The immunization was effective against the first episode of community-acquired pneumonia, or pneumonia spread from normal social contact rather than a hospital. Prevnar 13 also prevented the first episode of non-invasive community-acquired pneumonia as well as the first episode of vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease.

"Pneumococcal pneumonia is a significant cause of illness and death in adults around the world, and the potential to reduce the burden of this disease through direct vaccination of adults represents a meaningful public health benefit," said Emilio A. Emini, Pfizer's senior vice president of vaccine research and development.

Prevnar 13 was licensed by the FDA under an accelerated approval process to address an unmet medical need in older adults, Pfizer said. The drug was initially introduced for use in infants and young children in 2009.

Pfizer shares were up 30 cents to $31.76 in premarket trading. As of Friday's close, the stock is up 15% in the past 12 months.

Write to Everdeen Mason at [e-mail]

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