Nimenrix (R), a new meningococcal vaccine conjugate against groups A, C, W 135 meningococcal e and is now available in Spain.

– is a vaccine that is used for the immunization of travellers travelling to areas of risk

Spain, February 2013.- Nimenrix ®, a new vaccine against meningococcus, which helps to protect against disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria invasive meningococcal meningitidis (groups A(, C, W-135 and and), is now available in Spain. It is the first meningococcal vaccine conjugate against these groups approved in Europe for use in children from one year of age. Nimenrix ® is administered in a single dose and can be given as a dose of memory in subjects who have been previously vaccinated with an unconjugated polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine.(1)

Nimenrix ® is conjugated with tetanus toxoid as carrier protein; this verb for improved profile immunogenic vaccine with respect to the polysaccharide vaccines, especially in young children.

Dr. Rogelio Lopez-velez.

As explained by Dr. Rogelio López-Vélez, head of the unit of Tropical Medicine at the Hospital Ramón y Cajal in Madrid, during the presentation of the vaccine, have to manage this new quadrivalent conjugate vaccine to travelers to areas of risk, such as sub-Saharan Africa; also noteworthy within the populations of increased risk against meningitis to the immigrant population which travels to their countries of origin, located in high-risk areas, to visit friends and family and they can transmit the disease back in their immediate environment. Students who travel to Canada or United States to go to camps or to reside in university residences also should be vaccinated. Most importantly when it comes to giving the Council the traveler is to assess each case individually. Meningococcal disease can affect people of any age, but is most common in children under 4 years of age and adolescents. This vaccine allows vaccination of young children above 12 months, since it is the first vaccine meningococcal conjugate in Europe which can protect this group of risk ”.

Nimenrix ® helps protect against four of the six groups that cause the majority of the meningococcal disease in the world.(1.3) The Dr. Lopez-velez pointed out that meningococcal disease is very transmissible, evolves very quickly and can be very serious and have irreversible consequences and even life-threatening ”.

The immunogenicity and safety of Nimenrix ® has been studied in clinical trials in which more than 7,000 people participated between one and 55 years of age (inclusive). The development of Nimenrix ® program included more than 17 clinical studies in 17 countries.(1)

In clinical studies, Nimenrix ® was generally tolerated well and adverse reactions that were more frequently observed were loss of appetite, irritability, fatigue, drowsiness, fever, swelling and redness at the injection site. Although less frequent, were also observed gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea) and hematoma at the site of the injection (1)

Neisseria meningitidis

meningococcal disease, including bacterial meningitis, an infection of the membrane that surrounds the spinal cord and the brain, very fast progressing with consequencesin some cases, potentially severe and permanent as loss of limbs, deafness and brain damage of different consideration. (4) the most common causes of bacterial meningitis is Haemophilus influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis, although the etiology may vary according to age (5)

identified 13 groups of Neisseria meningitidissix of which (A, B, C, W135, X e and) cause the majority of cases of this disease globally.(3)

The distribution of Neisseria meningitidis varies depending on the geographic location and over time. The epidemiology of meningococcal disease is dynamic and impredecible.6 have been cases, outbreaks and epidemics meningococcal by all the mundo7 e, even when medical care is available, the mortality rate is 5-10%.(6.8)

Infants and children under four years old are most at risk of contracting meningococcal disease, with a second peak in incidence in adolescence. Likewise, travelers ranging to areas with high level of endemism of meningoococica disease (for example, the in the meningitis belt ” in sub-Saharan Africa) or people who come to mass activities (for example, pilgrimage to Mecca) may have more risk of contracting the disease.(2.8)

Nimenrix ®

is a conjugate vaccine for active immunization of persons from 12 months of age against disease meningococcal invasive caused by Neisseria meningitidis groups A, C, W-135 and y. (1)

is the only vaccine marketed in Europe for immunization from one year of age. You can manage as a dose of memory in subjects who have been previously vaccinated with a meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine not conjugada.1 can be coadministered with vaccines commonly administered pediatric and travelers.

Nimenrix is a trade mark of the GlaxoSmithKline group. Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency, here.

GlaxoSmithKIine (GSK), one of the companies leading world pharmaceutical research and health care, aims to improve the quality of life of peopleenabling people to have more vitality, feel better and live longer.

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References

(1) Nimenrix ®. Sheet, April 2012

(2) World Health Organization. Meningococcal vaccines: who, November 2011 positioning. Weekly epidemiological report. 2011; 86:521-540

(3) Halperin S.A et to the. The changing and dynamic epidemiology of meningococcal disease. Vaccine. 2011;doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.032

(4) World Health Organization. Meningococcal meningitis. 2011 Available here. [accessed: January 2013]

(5) Müller ML. Pediatric bacterial meningitis. 2011 Available here. [accessed: January 2013]

(6) Kriz P et to the. Changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease in Europe from the mid-20th to the early 21st Century. Vaccines. 2011; 10:1477-1486

(7) Harrison LH et to the. Global epidemiology of meningococcal disease. Vaccine. 2009; 27S:B51 – B63

(8) World Health Organization. Meningococcal vaccines: polysaccharide and polysaccharide conjugate vaccines. Epidemiological report. 2002; 77:331-396