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

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 &...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Vaccines

Senate Panel Approves US CDC Director Candidate Monarez With Measles Outbreak Growing

 
• By 

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted to advance Monarez's nomination to lead the CDC as the agency announced the largest US measles outbreak in 22 years.

US FDA Advisory Committee Supports Vaccine Safety, Scrutinizes AE Reporting Quality

 
• By 

The Pediatric Advisory Committee supported routine safety monitoring for three vaccines and 21 drugs, but the panel’s consumer representative said adverse event reporting needs improvement and FDA literature reviews should include lawsuits as well as social media.

US FDA Pediatric Adcomm To Examine HPV, Flu, Dengue Vaccines: No News Is Good News?

 
• By 

Pediatric Advisory Committee will weigh the FDA's recommendation that routine safety monitoring continue for Merck & Co's Gardasil and Sanofi's Fluzone and Dengvaxia despite a political climate that has been unkind to vaccines.

England’s NHS Plan Eyes Cancer Vaccine Boost, Single Formulary & ‘Pay For Impact’ Drug Deal

 

The creation of a single national formulary for medicines prescribing that could impact industry is among the action points in the UK government’s new 10-year health plan for the National Health Service in England.

More from Pink Sheet

EMA’s PRIME Scheme Explored: Growing Designations - But Are Accelerated Assessments Slipping?

 

While the first six months of the year saw eight new drugs targeting a range of diseases enter the European Medicines Agency’s priority medicines scheme, and three PRIME-designated treatments go on to win EU marketing approval, use of the accelerated assessment mechanism appears to be limited.

Global Pharma Guidance Tracker - June 2025

 

Stay up to date on regulatory guidelines from around the world with the Pink Sheet’s Guidance Tracker. The complete Global Pharma Guidance Tracker, with sortable and searchable listings going back to 2014, is available online.

US FDA’s CRL Release More Incremental Than ‘Radical’ Transparency

 

The transparency initiative collects CRLs already made public in approval packages on its drugs@fda site to post on the openFDA public portal.