Merck (NYSE: MRK), also known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has unanimously recommended CAPVAXIVE™ (Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine) as an option for adults aged 65 years and older for pneumococcal vaccination.
The ACIP’s recommendation includes the following:
- A single dose of CAPVAXIVE for adults aged 65 years and older who have not previously received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or whose vaccination history is unknown.
- Adults aged 19-64 years with specific underlying medical conditions or other risk factors who have not previously received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or whose vaccination history is unknown.
- Adults aged 19 years and older who initiated their pneumococcal vaccine series with PCV13 (pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine) but have not completed all recommended PPSV23 (pneumococcal 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine) doses.
Additionally, the ACIP recommends shared clinical decision-making for a supplemental dose of CAPVAXIVE for adults aged 65 years and older who have completed their vaccine series with both PCV13 and PPSV23.
CAPVAXIVE is indicated for active immunization to prevent invasive disease and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in adults aged 18 years and older. Specifically, it targets serotypes 3, 6A, 7F, 8, 9N, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15A, 15B, 15C, 16F, 17F, 19A, 20A, 22F, 23A, 23B, 24F, 31, 33F, and 35B.
Dr. Eliav Barr, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Clinical Development and Chief Medical Officer at Merck Research Laboratories, commented, “CAPVAXIVE represents an innovative approach to preventing invasive pneumococcal disease in adults, particularly focusing on strains causing severe disease in those aged 65 years and older. The ACIP’s endorsement acknowledges CAPVAXIVE’s clinical profile for U.S. adults, and we await the CDC’s finalized recommendations.”
The provisional recommendations are subject to final review and approval by the CDC Director and the Department of Health and Human Services.
