In the Phase 3 study, PREVNAR 20 vaccine triggered similar responses for all 20 serotypes, either with Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine or with placebo
PREVNAR 20 is a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. (Credit: Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay.)
Pfizer has unveiled positive results from the Phase 3 study of PREVNAR 20, its 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, co-administered with a booster dose of its Covid-19 vaccine, or when each vaccine was given with placebo.
Initiated in May last year, the study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of PREVNAR 20 in 570 individuals, aged 65 years or older.
The Phase 3 trial enrolled participants from Phase 3 clinical trial of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, who received second dose of the vaccine at least six months earlier.
In the study, the multi-valent vaccine triggered similar responses for all 20 serotypes, either with a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) or with placebo.
Also, a booster dose of Comirnaty also showed similar responses when administered together with PREVNAR 20 or with placebo, said the company.
The safety profile of PREVNAR 20 co-administered with Comirnaty booster dose was generally consistent with that observed with the booster dose of the vaccine alone.
Pfizer senior vice president and vaccine R&D head Kathrin U Jansen said: “Pfizer is steadfast in its commitment to address the burden of certain respiratory diseases while raising awareness of the importance of adult immunizations.
“These new safety and immunogenicity data provide further evidence supporting the potential to administer PREVNAR 20 and the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine at the same time, thereby reducing the number of visits adults make to their doctor’s office or pharmacy for recommended immunization.
“As the Covid-19 vaccines and booster doses continue to be administered, we believe that healthcare providers have an opportunity to talk to their adult patients about other recommended vaccines in line with CDC guidance.”
Pfizer developed PREVNAR 20 as a new-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and features capsular polysaccharide conjugates for the 13 serotypes.
The stereotypes include 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F, already included in Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine (PREVNAR 13).
It also contains capsular polysaccharide conjugates for seven additional serotypes, 8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 22F and 33F.
The additional serotypes are responsible for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and have been associated with high case-fatality rates, antibiotic resistance, and/or meningitis.
In June last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of PREVNAR 20, to help prevent pneumococcal diseases and pneumonia, in adults.
Pfizer claimed that its PREVNAR 20 covers a wide spectrum of conjugate serotypes and protects against more strains of pneumococcal bacteria than any others conjugate vaccines.