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Change Is Constant For Pneumococcal Vaccines: US CDC Prepares For Merck’s V116

 
• By Bridget Silverman

As Merck’s 21-valent vaccine approaches its 17 June user fee goal, the US CDC’s vaccine committee is looking at new adult age-based recommendations and bracing for a full pipeline led by GSK’s 24-valent candidate.

'Dynamic Changes' In Pneumococcal Disease Incidence are Anticipated. • Source: Shutterstock

The active pipeline of new, higher-valent pneumococcal vaccine candidates promises to keep the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s already notoriously confusing guidelines at the center of deliberations by its Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices.

Key Takeaways

  • The CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices is preparing to vote on recommendations for Merck’s 21-valent V116 pneumococcal vaccine candidate at its 26-28 June meeting, less than two weeks after the vaccine’s 17 June FDA user fee goal.

The committee now is gearing up for a vote at its 26-28 June meeting on recommendations for Merck &...

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