Merck & Co. looks to take on Pfizer’s Prevnar franchise with positive top-line data for V116

2023-07-27

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Merck & Co. has announced positive top-line results from two Phase III trials evaluating V116, its investigational 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in vaccine-naïve and previously vaccinated individuals. The company initiated pivotal-stage studies of the vaccine last summer.

Results from the STRIDE-3 trial demonstrated statistically significant immune responses for V116 compared to PCV20 (pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate vaccine) in vaccine-naïve adults for serotypes common to both vaccines as assessed by serotype-specific opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) 30 days post-vaccination. Positive immune responses were also observed for serotypes unique to V116.

Additionally, results from STRIDE-6 demonstrated that V116 was immunogenic for all 21 pneumococcal serotypes in the vaccine among adults who previously received a pneumococcal vaccine at least one year prior to the study.

In both studies, V116 had a safety profile comparable to the comparator and results will be shared with the scientific community in the near future. If approved, V116 would be the first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine specifically designed for adults, said Merck.

According to CDC data from 2019, the 21 serotypes covered by V116 are responsible for 85% of invasive pneumococcal disease in individuals 65 and older and Merck’s vaccine includes eight serotypes not currently covered by approved pneumococcal vaccines. These unique serotypes are thought to be responsible for approximately 30% of invasive pneumococcal disease in individuals 65 and older, based on pre-pandemic data.

“Despite the availability of current pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, many adults remain vulnerable to pneumococcal disease, especially those who are older,” said Eliav Barr, senior vice president, head of global clinical development and chief medical officer at Merck Research Laboratories.

The global market for pneumococcal vaccines is largely dominated by Pfizer’s Prevnar 13 and Prevnar 20 franchises, with smaller share commanded by Merck’s Pneumovax and Vaxneuvance brands which the company is hoping to build on with V116.

The third notable player in this space GSK, responsible for marketing the vaccine Synflorix, acquired Affinivax just over a year ago at an upfront cost of $2.1 billion in a bid to also expand its long-term presence in the pneumococcal vaccine market.

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