Meningitis UK's stance on Phase II data for Meningitis B vaccine
A candidate vaccine which has the potential to protect infants against a deadly strain of meningitis has been welcomed by national charity Meningitis UK.
Pharmacutical company Novartis has developed a vaccine which has the potential to provide broad coverage against Meningitis B, the strain which accounts for almost 90 per cent of all cases and can kill in under four hours.
The trial involved 150 British infants and the new Phase II data for the novel vaccine is being presented at the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) annual meeting in Austria today (Wednesday).
Steve Dayman, Chief Executive of Meningitis UK said: "This is an encouraging development but we would like to stress that it is vital that research continues as there is still a long way to go to reach a Meningitis B vaccine which is proven to provide broad coverage against all strains.
"The Meningitis B bacterium is incredibly complex and developing a vaccine to protect against it has always been one of the biggest challenges in meningitis vaccine development. When developing a vaccine, there are so many avenues that need to be explored and sadly the vast majority of approaches will fail at some stage.
"Meningitis UK represents thousands of families who have suffered the devastation of meningitis and our sole focus is to find a vaccine to eradicate the disease completely.
"To ensure we reach our goal even faster and save more lives, many of our research projects add value to work already being undertaken by industry. Last year we launched our Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign to raise £7million to support the breakthroughs which are currently being made.
"Great advances have been made in the last 20 years including vaccines against Hib, Meningitis C and Pneumococcal Meningitis and our scientists believe that with enough support, a vaccine against Meningitis B could be found within the next few years."
For more information about Meningitis UK, or to support the charity's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, call 0117 373 7373 or visit www.meningitisUK.org.
To speak to Steve Dayman, please call Nicola Clarke, Media officer, on
0117 373 73 73.
Notes to the Editor
• Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining that covers the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal septicaemia occurs when poisons caused by the meningococcal bacteria enter the blood stream.
• Meningitis can kill in under 4 hours, which is why finding a vaccine is so imperative. It is a notoriously difficult disease to diagnose, as in the early stages, symptoms can appear flu-like.
• Every year more than 300 people die and hundreds more are left with permanent disabilities. In 2007 there were 2,168 cases provisionally recorded in the UK.
• Meningitis UK is the only meningitis charity in the UK soley committed to meningitis vaccine development.
• Meningitis UK has a single focus - to find a vaccine to eradicate all forms of meningitis. Although successful vaccines exist to protect against some forms of meningitis, there is still no vaccine available to protect against the most common form in the UK - meningococcal group B, which causes both meningitis and septicaemia and accounts for almost 90 per cent of all cases.
• In the absence of a vaccine against all strains, Meningitis UK also provide a wide range of material to raise awareness of the common symptoms and need to act quickly, which can often mean the difference between life and death.
• Classic symptoms of meningitis are a headache, stiff neck and a dislike of bright light. Other symptoms can include difficulty supporting own weight, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea and confusion and drowsiness.
• Symptoms that may exist with meningococcal septicaemia include aching limbs, cold hands and feet and a rash which starts like pin prick marks and develops rapidly into purple bruising. Other symptoms may include difficulty supporting own weight, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, confusion and drowsiness, as well as difficulty breathing and change in skin colour.
• It is important that people are aware of the symptoms and follow their instincts, and if they suspect something is wrong they should seek medical help immediately.
• Meningitis UK is currently funding a number of cutting-edge research projects into the prevention of all forms of meningitis in the UK. The total value of the charity's current research programme is £1,128,574.
• Meningitis UK's Chief Executive, Steve Dayman lost his 14 month-old son Spencer in 1982 to meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia.
• Meningitis UK is the working name of Spencer Dayman Meningitis UK, Registered Charity No. 1076774
Statistics: Source - Health Protection Agency, Health Protection Scotland & Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Northern Ireland
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
