Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc. both have a long heritage in the pneumococcal vaccines market and are simultaneously launching new offerings that are expected to deliver near- to mid-term vaccine franchise growth. With Pfizer's Prevnar 20 and Merck's Vaxneuvance, both companies are aiming to capture shares of the adult vaccine market, a big commercial opportunity though substantially smaller than the pediatric market.
ACIP Recommendations
- Prevnar 20 recommended for adults 65 and older and adults ages 19 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions
Now that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has weighed in and updated its recommendations on pneumococcal vaccinations for adults, the commercial launches will begin in earnest. The ACIP's recommendations essentially level the playing field for the two products
