KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Apr. 25. 2024 – Today, MSD, marks a significant milestone in the fight against pneumococcal disease with the introduction of Vaxneuvance™, a new generation 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
This vaccine offers protection against 15 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, providing active immunization protection for the prevention of pneumococcal disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F and 33F in individuals 6 weeks of age and older.
In Malaysia, the prevalence of pneumonia in children under 5 years of age is between 28-39%, which poses a significant threat to the children. Based on the most recent statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), it ranks as the second leading cause of death, accounting for 13.3% across all age groups. Specifically, for children aged 0-14 years, it is the number one cause of death, constituting 4.0% of fatalities in this age group2.
Additionally, pneumococcal disease also contributes up to 21.7% of the community-acquired pneumonia cases in Malaysia. . Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial pathogen for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
“At MSD, we are committed to advancing global health through innovative solutions, and this newly developed vaccine exemplifies this commitment,” said Dr Abdullahi Sheriff, Managing Director, MSD Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. He added,” The development of Vaxneuvance™ by MSD involved years of rigorous research and clinical trials across various countries, including Malaysia, which demonstrated the vaccine’s ability to elicit a robust immune response against all 15 serotypes.
MSD is actively working with healthcare providers and relevant stakeholders to make the vaccine widely available, aligning with its mission to save and improve lives.”
Invasive Pneumococcal disease (IPD) is an infection caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. Some examples of IPD are bacteremia (an infection in the blood) and meningitis (an infection of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord), which can also result in long-term neurological complications.
Prof. Datuk Dr. Zulkifli Ismail, Consultant Paediatrician, said “As healthcare professionals, we welcome innovative solutions that expand coverage of key invasive disease-causing serotypes and provide a strong immune response to serotypes that pose substantial risk to infants and children.
The serotype coverage of this newly developed vaccine is crucial in addressing the changing epidemiology of pneumococcal disease in Malaysia. There is a likelihood that the current local serotypes will change with the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine in the Malaysia National Immunisation Programme (NIP), and additional coverage may be a useful adjunct.”
The pneumococcal vaccine has been introduced in the NIP for children since January 2020. The newly developed vaccine is anticipated to provide broader coverage and potential advantages. With protection against risk-causing serotypes, it has the potential to further reduce the overall burden of the disease by addressing the evolving epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
“It has been recognized that serotype-specific immune responses may decrease further as more serotypes are added into a new higher valency vaccine. Maintaining robust immune responses to current PCV serotypes is crucial, while expanding coverage and enhancing immunogenicity for specific serotypes, like serotype 3, is also important.
Serotype-3 is associated with a significant disease burden in the adult population in Malaysia, causing the highest number of cases of invasive pneumococcal diseases (19.8%) and the second-highest in non-invasive pneumococcal disease (11.11%), it remains a concern among adults. Improving immunogenicity against serotype-3 is a key goal that PCV15 has achieved “ , added Assoc. Professor Petrick Periyasamy, Infectious Disease Specialist.
Introducing the latest vaccine represents a significant step forward in efforts to reduce the burden of pneumococcal disease and its devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities, offering hope for improved protection for children and older adults in Malaysia.
The vaccine will be accessible at clinics and hospitals across the nation starting from April 2024.
For more information, visit www.msd-malaysia.com and LinkedIn.