Promising Data Released On New Infant Vaccine To Prevent Middle-Ear Infections, Meningitis and Pneumonia

Infant Vaccine to Target Pneumococcus Bacteria, the Leading Cause of Ear Infections and Meningitis

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BALTIMORE, May 8, 1996 -- A new vaccine may prevent up to 85% of serious pneumococcal-related illnesses, such as middle-ear infections, pneumonia and meningitis in infants, according to researchers with the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development.

Worldwide, pneumococcal pneumonia causes approximately 1.2 million deaths each year, and nearly 40% of all pneumonia deaths in children under five years of age. Pneumococcus bacteria is also the primary cause of meningitis.

Margaret Rennels, MD, professor with the center, reported at the annual meeting of three pediatric academic societies in Washington, D.C., that a seven-valent pneumococcal vaccine administered to 100 infants at two, four, and six months is safe and induces an antibody response to all seven serotypes in the formulation, which together account for 85% of all pneumococcal serotypes.

Over 20 million office visits per year, and 3 million emergency room visits, are attributed to otitis media, or fluid in the ear, resulting from middle-ear ineections. The pneumococcus bacteria is the primary cause of ear infections. Children who experience a pneumococcal infection before the age of one often develop chronic ear infections.

"Virtually everyone becomes infected with pneumococci eventually, and at any time we may be carrying the bacteria in our nose and throat," said Dr. Rennels. "As an increasing number of bacterial strains became resistant to antibiotics, the need for such vaccines will become more imperative."

The vaccine is a glycoconjugate, modeled after the Haemophilus b glycoconjugate. Vaccines made from the capsule of the pneumococcus are available for older children and adults, but young children cannot make antibodies to the capsule. By coupling the pneumococcal capsule with a protein carrier, researchers have been able to create a vaccine that will trigger an infant's immune system to produce antibodies.

Based upon the encouraging results of this study, efficacy trials for the vaccine are in progress.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine studied by Dr. Rennels and her colleagues was developed by scientists at Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines and Pediatrics.

CONTACT: Kristy Wooley of University of Maryland, 410-706-0914, or Pager: 410-909-9459