Industry Watch [to 24 January 2015]
:: Novartis Bexsero vaccine approved by FDA for the prevention of meningitis B, the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the US
Jan 23, 2015, 18:35 ET
Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Bexsero® (Meningococcal Group B Vaccine [recombinant, adsorbed]) for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B (also known as meningitis…

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:: Major milestone for GSK/NIH candidate Ebola vaccine as first doses shipped to Liberia for use in phase III clinical trial
23 January 2015, Issued: London, UK
Healthcare workers among those to be vaccinated in large-scale trial involving up to 30,000 people due to start in the coming weeks [see full press release above in Ebola/EVD section]

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:: Prevenar 13 Receives CHMP Positive Opinion For Prevention Of Vaccine-Type Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Adults
January 22, 2015 11:21 AM Eastern Standard Time
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced today that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion recommending that the indication for Prevenar 13* (pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine [13-valent, adsorbed]) be expanded to include the prevention of pneumonia caused by the 13 pneumococcal serotypes in the vaccine in adults 18 years and older. Prevenar 13 is currently approved in Europe for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in the same population. The CHMP’s positive opinion will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC). The decision on whether to approve Prevenar 13 for this indication will be made by the EC and will be applicable to all European Union member states plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway…

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:: Specialty Vaccine Company PaxVax Appoints Nima Farzan as President
January 21, 2015
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PaxVax, Inc., a specialty vaccine company focused on travel and biodefense, today announced the appointment of Nima Farzan as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). Mr. Farzan, who has served as PaxVax COO for the past three years, will be responsible for the company’s global operations including the finance, production and commercial functions. The company also announced today that Mr. Farzan has joined the PaxVax Board of Directors. Kenneth Kelley will continue to serve as the company’s Chief Executive Officer and as a Director….