Meningitis vaccine boosts immune response

Honolulu -- Swiss-based Novartis says clinical trials show its new Menveo vaccine is effective in preventing four types of meningitis.

The drug, which has been developed for use from early infancy through adulthood, is in Phase III clinical trials, the company said in a news release.

The data was presented this week at the Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting in Honolulu.

A trial involving more than 2,100 11- to 18-year-olds showed Menveo helped trigger a strong immune response in a greater percentage of adolescents than the Sanofi-Aventis vaccine Menactra. Novartis said it plans to file for approval in the United States and Europe this year, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Meningitis kills 10 percent to 14 percent of the 1,400 to 2,800 U.S. patients diagnosed with the bacterial disease each year, the newspaper said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.