COLLEGEVILLE, Pa., March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth , salutes the World Health Organization’s (WHO) decision to support the inclusion of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in national immunization programs worldwide. In view of the demonstrated vaccine efficacy and high disease burden, WHO notes that PCV can help substantially reduce mortality and morbidity. Pneumococcal disease is a significant concern to children’s health, estimated by WHO to result in up to 1 million deaths each year in young children around the world.
“Reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease is a vital step toward achieving the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015,” says Bernard Poussot, President, Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman, Wyeth. “Broad adoption of the WHO position has the potential to save millions of children’s lives around the world. Wyeth is dedicated to doing its part, in collaboration with the GAVI Alliance, other international agencies and local governments, to bring PREVNAR(R) Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine (Diphtheria CRM197 Protein) to the world’s most vulnerable populations through an affordable and sustainable plan that is reflective of global economic and market conditions.”
Wyeth recently applied to WHO for pre-qualification status for PREVNAR. If accepted, this status will enable international agencies to include the vaccine in mass immunization programs in the world’s least developed countries. The pre-qualification process is expected to be completed by early 2008.
“To date, Wyeth has invested more than $1 billion in state-of-the-art facilities for the manufacturing of PREVNAR and the development and production of future vaccines,” says Jim Connolly, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Vaccines Business Unit. “These investments have resulted in a robust supply outlook for PREVNAR, which is an essential part in helping to protect both current and future generations against this potentially devastating disease.”
Many health authorities already have recognized the importance of protecting infants and young children against pneumococcal disease. PREVNAR now is available in 74 countries and is part of the routine national childhood immunization schedule in 16 of these countries worldwide.
In addition, Wyeth is developing a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that targets additional serotypes. This investigational vaccine currently is undergoing clinical development and potentially would offer broader coverage against pneumococcal disease for both infants and adults.
About Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and describes a group of illnesses, including bacteremia/sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia and otitis media. Pneumococcal disease affects both children and adults and, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a leading cause of death and illness worldwide. WHO estimates that pneumococcal disease results in up to 1 million deaths each year in young children worldwide. Further, according to WHO, pneumococcal disease is the number one vaccine-preventable cause of death in children less than five years of age worldwide.
Important Safety Information about PREVNAR
In clinical trials (n=18,168), the most frequently reported adverse events included injection site reactions, fever (greater than or equal to 38 degrees C/100.4 degrees F), irritability, drowsiness, restless sleep, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and rash.
Risks are associated with all vaccines, including PREVNAR. Hypersensitivity to any vaccine component, including diphtheria toxoid, is a contraindication to its use. PREVNAR does not provide 100 percent protection against vaccine serotypes or protect against non-vaccine serotypes.
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, has leading products in the areas of women’s health care, infectious disease, gastrointestinal health, central nervous system, inflammation, transplantation, hemophilia, oncology, vaccines and nutritional products.
Wyeth is one of the world’s largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company’s major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on current expectations of future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include the inherent uncertainty of the timing and success of, and expense associated with, research, development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our products, including with respect to our pipeline products; government cost-containment initiatives; restrictions on third-party payments for our products; substantial competition in our industry, including from branded and generic products; data generated on our products; the importance of strong performance from our principal products and our anticipated new product introductions; the highly regulated nature of our business; product liability, intellectual property and other litigation risks and environmental liabilities; uncertainty regarding our intellectual property rights and those of others; difficulties associated with, and regulatory compliance with respect to, manufacturing of our products; risks associated with our strategic relationships; economic conditions including interest and currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; trade buying patterns; the impact of legislation and regulatory compliance; risks and uncertainties associated with global operations and sales; and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K, particularly the discussion under the caption “Item 1A, RISK FACTORS.” The forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these risk factors. We assume no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Wyeth
CONTACT: Media, Natalie de Vane, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, +1-484-865-5139;Douglas Petkus, Wyeth, +1-973-660-5218; Investor, Justin Victoria, Wyeth,+1-973-660-5340
Web site: http://www.wyeth.com/
