Prevenar 13 rejected for UK vaccination programme
pharmafile | July 27, 2012 | News story | Sales and Marketing | JCVI, Pfizer, Pneumovax, Sanofi Pasteur, prevenar 13
The UK’s joint committee on vaccination and immunisation is recommending against a switch to Pfizer’s pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar 13 from Sanofi Pasteur MSD’s Pneumovax.
Pfizer’s vaccine is already used in the UK for its childhood immunity programme, but Pfizer was looking to have this extended to include older adults and people at high-risk.
This comes after the company received an extended European licence for this population in September last year.
In fact the Department of Health notes that Pfizer was so keen to use its new licence in the UK, it had begun advertising its vaccine for adults months before the JCVI came to its decision this week – something it is barred from doing under the ABPI Code.
But in the committee’s minutes, the JCVI knocked backed Pfizer’s aspirations, saying it could not recommend a switch to Prevenar 13 from Sanofi Pasteur MSD’s drug because of “uncertainties about the effectiveness [and cost effectiveness] of the vaccine”.
And cost is a big factor – according to the British National Formulary, Pneumovax costs £8.32 for a 0.5ml vial and protects against 23 types of pneumococcus, whereas Pfizer’s vaccine costs £49.10 for a 0.5ml pre-filled syringe, and only protects against 13 types.
The committee did recommend, however, that use of Pneumovax should be reviewed within two years to determine whether it remains effective and cost effective.
David Bevan, Pfizer’s UK head of speciality care, told InPharm: “We strongly believe that Prevenar 13 offers a significant health benefit for those most vulnerable to invasive pneumococcal disease.”
He said that Pfizer were “committed to continuing to work with the Department of Health to secure broader recommendations,” and was hopeful that the vaccine would still be used in a new patient population.
The JCVI only makes recommendations to the government, and the DH could still decide to use the vaccine, meaning Pfizer may still see its vaccine replace Pneumovax.
But given the high cost and uncertainties over its efficacy, the DH may favour the JCVI’s arguments over Pfizer’s.
Prevenar 13 is Pfizer’s fourth biggest selling drug, and brought in $834 million for the firm last year.
Ben Adams
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