Chiron Corporation today announced that it has received a license for its new meningococcal B vaccine for New Zealand, MeNZB(TM).
Meningococcal disease results from infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, known as meningococcus. Meningococcal disease usually affects the membranes around the brain and spinal cord or the bloodstream, causing meningitis or septicemia, respectively. Meningococcal disease can result in brain damage, blindness, deafness, limb amputations and death. Infection may be fatal even if diagnosed early, making prevention essential.
Chiron developed the vaccine, in close collaboration with the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, to protect against the specific meningococcal B strain responsible for a 13-year epidemic in the country. Prior to the New Zealand regulatory authorities issuing the license, no other vaccine was available to protect against this strain of meningococcal B disease.
"Approval from the New Zealand authorities is the final milestone before roll-out of this important vaccine," said John Lambert, president, Chiron Vaccines. "Vaccination represents the best chance of ending the meningococcal B epidemic that has struck New Zealand for more than a decade, affecting in excess of 5,000 people and leaving hundreds dead or permanently disabled.
"Through the hard work of the entire multinational team, we have developed, tested, scaled-up, manufactured and achieved regulatory approval for this New Zealand strain vaccine in just three years, a fraction of the time usually required. This accomplishment builds on Chiron's leadership position in the meningococcal field, established through the contribution of our Menjugate(R) vaccine to the meningococcal C eradication campaign in the United Kingdom."