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After 40 Years, Is Vaccine For Group B Strep On Horizon?

 
• By Brenda Sandburg

US FDA advisory committee debates possible endpoints to demonstrate vaccine effectiveness in maternal immunization; Pfizer, which has candidate in Phase I/II study, says use of surrogate endpoint of protection may be most feasible.

Render illustration of Clinical Trial title on medical documents

For researchers looking to develop a vaccine to prevent Group B streptococcus (GBS) disease in infants, the May 17 meeting of US FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee was a significant step forward.

The committee was asked to discuss possible endpoints to demonstrate effectiveness of GBS vaccines in preventing infant disease through maternal immunization. No country has licensed a vaccine for GBS and no product has proceeded beyond early clinical trials

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