Novartis Says Menveo Is Effective Against Meningitis Bacteria

Washington (dbTechno) - Swiss drug maker Novartis AG has come out and stated that their experimental meningitis vaccine, known as Menveo, has performed effectively, and in some cases better than rival meningitis vaccines.

Novartis stated that Menveo managed to help against meningitis by building up the immune system.

The vaccine caused a strong immune response against many types of meningitis bacteria in the majority of adolescents tested.

Novartis helped fund a trial for Menveo where they tested 2,100 adolescents with a single vaccination of Menveo or Menactra, the rival vaccine.

They found that Menveo proved to put forth a stronger immune response against certain types of meningitis bacteria compared to the other vaccine.

Menveo is designed to protect against four types of meningitis bacteria. The four types include serotypes W-135, Y, A, and C.

It is believed that Menveo will prove more effective than the current vaccine from Sanofi-Aventis, Menactra.

Novartis will likely file for regulatory approval in the U.S. and Europe before the end of 2008.