MSD's 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), Vaxneuvance, will be used in Korea in earnest next month as part of the government’s pediatric national immunization program (NIP).

MSD Korea said it had secured sufficient batches of Vaxneuvance to prepare for its full-scale launch.

Vaxneuvance is the first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) licensed in Korea in 13 years. It adds two serotypes, “22F” and “33F” to the 13 serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 23F) of the existing vaccine to broaden the range of protection.

It is available for all ages, including infants, children, adolescents from six weeks to 17 years of age, and adults 18 and older.

MSD Korea began supplying Vaxneuvance to adults in several hospitals this month and plans to expand it to all ages next month.

Vaxneuvance will be newly introduced to the National Immunization Program (NIP) for children starting April 1.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) discontinued GSK's 10-valent PCV Synflorix, which has been used for pediatric NIP, with the introduction of Vaxneuvance.

As a result, the pediatric NIP vaccine will be reconstituted with Pfizer's 13-valent PCV, Prevenar 13, and Vaxneuvance. MSD's Vaxneuvance can also be cross-immunized with Pfizer's Prevenar 13 to provide broader protection in children.

Pediatric vaccination will consist of four doses: three baseline doses at 2-4-6 months of age and one booster dose at 12-15 months, allowing children previously receiving the baseline dose of Prevenar 13 to receive Vaxneuvance.

The phase 3 PNEU-DIRECTION study, which enrolled about 900 infants, confirmed the efficacy of Vaxneuvance as a single dose and in combination with Prevenar 13.

In the study, the Vaxneuvance monotherapy arm had a tolerability and safety profile similar to the Prevenar 13 monotherapy arm. The Prevenar 13 plus Vaxneuvance co-immunization arm also demonstrated immune responses to 13 common serotypes similar to those of the Prevenar 13 monotherapy arm.