BRIEF—Filing for Mitsubishi Tanabe-partnered vaccine in Japan

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation and The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University have announced the submission of an application for marketing authorization in Japan.

The application relates to a combination vaccine for prophylaxis of pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, acute poliomyelitis (polio) and haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), which they have jointly developed.

This jab combines Terrabik (adsorbed diphtheria-purified pertussis-tetanus-inactivated polio combined vaccine) with Hib vaccine and, since it is aimed at preventing five diseases, it has been selected as a high development priority according to Japan’s National Immunization Plan.

Presently, the total number of shots of routine vaccinations required by two years old is 20 or more. Combination jabs will reduce the number of shots and the burden on infants and parents.