The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved on October 15 the Meningococcal Group B Vaccine for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Philippines, a global biopharma company.
The vaccine is to prevent meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in people who are two months old or older.
Prior to this FDA approval, there was no vaccine for serogroup B.
Meningococcal disease is “a rare disease associated with high mortality rates, particularly in some low-resource countries,” in accordance with November 2021 paper published on Australian Microbiology.
SAerogroup B is prevalent in the Philippines, causing 68% of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in the country between 2017-2018, the paper said.
IMD can lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can also lead to meningococcal sepsis, where the bacteria enter the bloodstream, thereby spreading the infection. Both conditions require urgent attention to prevent irreversible consequences such as permanent hearing loss, visual impairment, and cognitive difficulties.
Infants and children are the most vulnerable to this disease.
“IMD can lead to serious illness, long-term complications, or even death, often affecting patients in ways that can change their lives forever,” said Dr. Giovell P. Barangan, country medical director of GSK Philippines, in the October 15 press. statement.
“The availability of this vaccine in the Philippines represents an important step to protect families and their loved ones from the life-threatening consequences of IMD,” he said.
GSK’s Meningococcal Group B Vaccine is licensed in more than 40 countries, including member states of the European Union, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. – Patricia B. Mirasol
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