INDIA – The World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified MenFive, the first conjugate vaccine to protect against the five predominant causes of meningococcal meningitis.
According to the Serum Institute of India Private Limited (SIIPL), MenFive is a game-changer vaccine that protects against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, Y, and X.
It is the only vaccine that prevents meningitis caused by meningococcal group X, a pathogen increasingly implicated in meningitis outbreaks in Africa.
MenFive is designed to not only prevent death from meningitis but also disability in survivors who would suffer lifelong social and economic consequences.
In a press release, Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India, said: “MenFive offers hope for a future free from annual outbreaks and epidemics in the African meningitis belt. Together, we can pave the way towards a healthier Africa, saving countless lives.”
MenFive has been added to the WHO toolbox and is expected to provide an affordable new intervention with two highly impactful health outcomes.
It is anticipated to offer broad, highly effective direct protection against invasive meningococcal disease along with indirect herd protection to unvaccinated people.
The WHO prequalification of MenFive follows a collaboration agreement made between SIIPL and PATH to manufacture the new vaccine against meningococcal meningitis in Africa.
MenFive was developed through a 13-year collaboration between SII and PATH, with crucial funding from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
On his part, Rajeev Dhere, Executive Director of SIIPL, said: “Making sure vaccines are available to those who need them most is a philosophy SIIPL has followed with all our products and continues to follow with MenFive.”
The WHO prequalification is an essential step in rolling out the vaccine in countries reporting the majority of meningitis cases, and ultimately, improving public health.
MenFive is designed to eliminate annual meningitis outbreaks and epidemics in the African meningitis belt comprising a string of 26 countries including Senegal, The Gambia, and Ethiopia.
The WHO pre-qualification is a rigorous process that evaluates pharmaceutical products based on their quality, safety, and efficacy standards.
MenFive has been prequalified by the UN health agency following extensive clinical studies in The Gambia, India, and Mali that demonstrated a high level of safety and immunogenicity.
Following the WHO prequalification status, MenFive can be procured by United Nations agencies and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance to protect countries from deadly and debilitating meningitis epidemics.
MenFive is approved by WHO for use in individuals aged 1-85 years of age and will initially be available for use in reactive vaccine campaigns for meningitis outbreaks.
The vaccine will be available at an affordable price for meningitis belt countries to include in their meningitis prevention strategies and control initiatives.
The availability of this multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine will build on global efforts to eliminate meningitis by 2030
Speaking on this landmark scientific achievement, Andrew Mitchell, the Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, noted: “Having access to a new, affordable vaccine will save lives, prevent long-term illness, and move us closer to defeating meningitis by 2030.”
Working in collaboration with PATH and other partners, the Serum Institute of India is expected to ensure the availability, affordability, and accessibility of MenFive to ensure it protects as many people as possible around the world.
The vaccine manufacturer has pledged its commitment to working with WHO, its partners, and affected countries to help build effective strategies for controlling meningococcal meningitis with MenFive.
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