CDC panel endorses Merck’s pneumococcal vaccine

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have unanimously recommended Merck & Co.'s newly approved pneumococcal vaccine, Capvaxive, for use in adults aged 65 and older, as well as younger adults with specific health conditions who have not previously received a similar vaccine. This recommendation places Capvaxive alongside Pfizer's Prevnar 20 and Merck's earlier pneumococcal vaccines, Vaxneuvance and Pneumovax.

Capvaxive received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this month to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. Pfizer's Prevnar series has traditionally dominated the pneumococcal vaccine market, but Merck aims to capture some market share with its new offerings, Capvaxive and Vaxneuvance.

Pneumococcal disease can cause severe infections such as pneumonia and meningitis, particularly in older adults and individuals with certain health conditions. Capvaxive is Merck's latest entry into the pneumococcal vaccine field, providing protection against 21 types of the bacteria responsible for pneumococcal disease. Notably, eight of these serotypes are not covered by other available vaccines.

The CDC panel specifically recommended that adults over 65 who have not previously received a pneumococcal vaccine, or whose vaccination history is unknown, should receive a single dose of Capvaxive. Additionally, adults aged 19 to 64 with underlying health conditions and no prior pneumococcal conjugate vaccine history are also eligible for the shot.

However, the panel decided to defer the discussion on lowering the age recommendation for pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50. This topic is expected to be revisited in an October meeting. According to Leerink Partners analyst Daina Graybosch, the committee is likely to lower the vaccination age to 50 and recommend both Capvaxive and Prevnar 20. Such a move would level the playing field between the competing vaccines and place Merck's commercial organization in charge of Capvaxive sales.

Another player in the pneumococcal vaccine market, Vaxcyte, anticipates significant growth in the sector. They project that annual sales will increase from $8 billion to approximately $13 billion by 2027.

In 2023, Merck's Vaxneuvance and Pneumovax 23 generated over $1 billion in sales, while Pfizer's Prevnar franchise reported sales exceeding $6 billion. Merck has previously announced that Capvaxive would be available as early as late July.