By Everdeen Mason
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) said a clinical study of its pneumonia vaccine
treatment for older adults showed the immunization prevented
several kinds of community-acquired pneumonia.
Pfizer's Prevnar 13 is a vaccine meant to prevent pneumococcal
diseases, or illnesses caused by s. pneumoniae bacteria, which
occur when the bacteria enters the bloodstream or causes an
infection in the lungs.
The Prevnar 13 trial tested the effectiveness of the vaccine in
85,000 patients aged 65 or older against pneumonia, which Pfizer
said makes it the largest double-blind, randomized,
placebo-controlled vaccine efficacy trial conducted in adults.
The immunization was effective against the first episode of
community-acquired pneumonia, or pneumonia spread from normal
social contact rather than a hospital. Prevnar 13 also prevented
the first episode of non-invasive community-acquired pneumonia as
well as the first episode of vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal
disease.
"Pneumococcal pneumonia is a significant cause of illness and
death in adults around the world, and the potential to reduce the
burden of this disease through direct vaccination of adults
represents a meaningful public health benefit," said Emilio A.
Emini, Pfizer's senior vice president of vaccine research and
development.
Prevnar 13 was licensed by the FDA under an accelerated approval
process to address an unmet medical need in older adults, Pfizer
said. The drug was initially introduced for use in infants and
young children in 2009.
Pfizer shares were up 30 cents to $31.76 in premarket trading.
As of Friday's close, the stock is up 15% in the past 12
months.
Write to Everdeen Mason at everdeen.mason@wsj.com
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