US Health Advisors Endorse Pfizer and Merck Pneumonia Vaccines for Adults Over 50

Photo : Reuters

A pivotal panel of U.S. health advisers has voted to lower the age recommendation for pneumococcal vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co., paving the way for broader usage. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cast a decisive 14-to-1 vote in favor of recommending that all adults aged 50 and older receive vaccinations to protect against bacterial infections that can lead to pneumonia and meningitis.

This new recommendation has received the endorsement of CDC Director Mandy Cohen, signaling a significant shift in public health guidance. Previously, the CDC had advised pneumococcal vaccinations primarily for adults aged 65 and older and for children under 5. Vaccination was also recommended for certain adults and children who are immunocompromised.

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The push for lowering the age threshold came from both Pfizer and Merck, who advocated for including adults aged 50 and up in the vaccination guidelines. The expanded recommendations could greatly benefit Pfizer, which is currently seeking new revenue streams due to declining sales of its COVID-19 vaccine and treatment products. Its pneumococcal vaccine, Prevnar, has been one of the company's top-selling items, generating approximately $6 billion in annual sales.

However, Merck's recently approved vaccine, named Capvaxive, introduces significant competition for Pfizer. Capvaxive offers protection against the bacterial strains responsible for approximately 84% of adult pneumococcal disease cases, whereas Prevnar targets only about half of the disease-causing strains. This competition could impact Pfizer's market share in the pneumococcal vaccine segment as both companies vie for a larger portion of the growing demand for vaccinations among older adults.

The approval of the new recommendations is expected to enhance public health efforts to prevent serious bacterial infections and further drive vaccination uptake in the recommended age group, ultimately aiming to reduce the incidence of pneumonia and related complications in older adults.