The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first vaccine, Trumenba, licensed to market in united states, that can prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B.
Meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B is a deadly disease that infects the bloodstream and the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, which is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis. The disease is transmitted through throat secretions while coughing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils. It's usually found affecting individuals between 10-25 years of age. The approval of Trumenba, by the FDA, provides a safe and effective way to prevent this disease in the United States. Trumenba, is found effective against four serogroups of N. meningitidis bacteria that cause meningococcal disease: A, C, Y, and W. The approval of the vaccine was given based on the clinical trial conducted at United States and Europe in 2,800 adolescents and safety was assessed in approximately 4,500 individuals. Result showed, 82 percent had antibodies in their blood that killed four different strains and common side effects were pain and swelling at the injection site, headache, diarrhea, muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue and chills.
Trumenba is manufactured by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.