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Meningitis B vaccine trial data is "promising"

13.09.10 

MENINGITIS UK has welcomed the latest results from a trial being carried out to test a future vaccine for the deadly Meningitis B.

Data presented by pharmaceutical company Novartis revealed that a large majority of infants given a new test drug achieved a robust immune response against strains of the disease.

Meningitis UK said the results could eventually lead to a vaccine that would save the lives of thousands of children.

Meningitis B is the most common form of the disease and is also one of the most deadly, which can kill in under four hours.

But due to its complex nature, it has been the hardest to immunise against. There are no widespread vaccines in existence.

Scientists examining the potential of Novartis's Multicomponent Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine (4CMenB) against the disease gave injections to 3,600 infants as part of an ongoing trial.

They found that the large majority of babies displayed a robust immune response against three strains of Meningitis B causing bacteria.

In addition, it was seen to have an acceptably low level of adverse reaction when given in conjunction with other infant vaccines.

This suggests it could be used as a vaccine in the first year of life - when it is most needed.

Paul Langford, Chair of Meningitis UK's Scientific Advisory Panel, from Imperial College London, said:

"The latest results from this study are very encouraging and we hope these promising developments will ultimately lead to a Meningitis B vaccine that will be given to children in this country.

"This is obviously an exciting development. However, the study has only reported data on three strains of meningococcal serogroup B bacteria. We look forward to finding out about the protection it provides against other strains.

"Of all forms of bacterial meningitis, meningococcal group B has always been the most difficult to develop a vaccine against because of its complex nature.

"If the promise shown by this vaccine can be translated to the clinic, and is as successful as the meningococcal group C vaccine introduced in 1999, there is the prospect of elimination of most meningococcal disease from the UK."

Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign aims to raise £7million to help fund cutting-edge research to eradicate all forms of meningitis.