Novartis and Merck & Co present strong data on Fluad and Zostavax, respectively, at IDSA meeting

New Phase III data demonstrate that Swiss drug major Novartis’ (NOVN: VX) MF59 adjuvanted influenza vaccine, Fluad, was highly efficacious in protecting infants and young children against seasonal influenza.

According to the company, this is the first efficacy study of an adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine in any pediatric population and the largest randomized, controlled efficacy study of influenza vaccination in children aged between six months and six years of age. These data were presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) held in Vancouver, Canada. Fluad is not currently licensed for this age group.

The pivotal trial enrolling more than 4,700 children met its primary endpoints. Fluad demonstrated 89% efficacy against vaccine-matched strains over two influenza seasons compared with 45% for the non-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccines group. Results also showed that the MF59 adjuvanted vaccine has an acceptable tolerability profile, similar to the non-adjuvanted influenza vaccines used in the study. These data have the potential to support the suitability of the MF59 adjuvanted vaccine for use in the pediatric population, a population at high risk of influenza infection and transmission, said Novartis.