MenACWY-CRM, a novel quadrivalent glycoconjugate vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis for the prevention of meningococcal infection

Abstract

Invasive meningococcal disease remains a major public health concern, with infants, children younger than 4 years and adolescents bearing the majority of the global disease burden. Protecting the vulnerable individuals in these age groups through vaccination remains the most rational strategy for the prevention of meningococcal disease. The formulation of polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines has been a major breakthrough in vaccinology, and has extended protection against pathogenic encapsulated bacteria to younger age groups. The dramatic decline in the incidence of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C disease, observed following the introduction of glycoconjugate meningococcal C vaccines, demonstrates that vaccination can control disease at a population level. The development of quadrivalent glycoconjugate meningococcal ACWY vaccines has broadened protection against meningococcal disease. A novel meningococcal MenACWY-CRM (Menveo) glycoconjugate vaccine, formulated by selective conjugation chemistry of intermediate-chain-length meningococcal saccharides, was immunogenic in individuals aged 2 months to 65 years. The reactogenicity of MenACWY-CRM was similar to that of other licensed meningococcal glycoconjugates, yet the vaccine has the potential to extend protection against meningococcal serogroups A, Y and W-135 to children younger than 2 years of age - a need that remains unmet.