New preventive option against serious childhood diseases available with GSK’s next generation vaccine
PHiD-CV vaccine now provides broader protection against pneumococcal diseases and acute otitis media

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) recently announced the Asian launch of its new pediatric vaccine, PHiD-CV*, which offers broader protection against the most common pneumococcal disease strains in the Philippines. This next generation 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine provides children with dual-pathogen protection against streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) and NTHi (Non-Typeable Haemophilus influenza), two major causes of childhood infections and their complications.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), up to 1 million children under the age of five die from pneumococcal disease every year4. Pneumococcal disease includes serious, invasive diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia and blood infection (bacteraemia), to less severe, but highly prevalent diseases, such as otitis media (middle ear infection), sinusitis and bronchitis4. WHO estimates reveal that over 90% of children’s deaths caused by pneumococcal disease occur in developing countries including Asia Pacific.

“Pneumocaccal disease is the leading vaccine-preventable disease in children under five years old so there is something that can be done to protect them,” says Professor Lulu Bravo, Vice Chancellor for Research & Executive Director, National Institute of Health, University of the Philippines, Manila and Chairperson, Asian Strategic Alliance for Pneumococcal Prevention (ASAP). “It’s good news that prevention against these diseases is continuously improving and that broader and more relevant coverage is now possible with GSK’s new pneumococcal vaccine.”.

The new vaccine increases protection coverage against serious pneumococcal disease to up to 83% in the Philippines. It can help prevent more IPD by covering three additional pneumococcal strains, 1, 5 and 7F. These S. pneumoniae strains – 1, 5 and 7F15– are associated with high levels of invasiveness and cause a significant proportion of severe IPD among children, accounting for about 22% of cases in Asian countries such as Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand.

In addition to protecting children against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), GSK’s new PHiD-CV vaccine is the only vaccine that offers protection against a common bacterial pathogen called NTHi. Together with S. pneumoniae, NTHi causes over 40% of otitis media cases6, a serious inflammatory middle ear infection8. Most children , by their third birthday, suffer at least one episode of acute otitis media (AOM), making it one of the most common childhood diseases7. With recurrent episodes, AOM causes significant suffering and emotional distress and negatively affects the quality of life for children and their families. 9,10,11,12 Worse, if left untreated, it can lead to developmental delays in children affecting their language, speech and socialization skills.

“Not many know that what’s commonly known as ‘luga’ can have serious consequences on the child’s hearing, which may impact on his development,” says Professor Gretchen Navarro-Locsin, Pediatric Otorhinolaryngologist Vice Chair, St. Luke's Medical Center, Philippines. “A new vaccine to prevent otitis media means that we can reduce the risk of early onset ear infections that often lead to recurrent disease. This is harder to treat and is associated with greater complications.” She adds, “For some children with otitis media, permanent hearing loss occurs, which can affect speech and language development and even school performance.”

In the face of growing antibiotic resistance, pneumococcal disease and AOM risk is becoming harder to treat, as S. pneumoniae has rapidly become resistant to antibiotics13. According to the WHO, vaccination against pneumococcal disease has the potential to have the most significant positive impact on the number of new cases of pneumococcal disease, compared to other public health measures.

“It is unfortunate that children are still dying and suffering from vaccine-preventable disease such as pneumococcal disease”, says Roberto Taboada, GSK Philippines President and Managing Director. “As part of GSK’s continuing efforts to make our globally-trusted brands accessible to more Filipinos, we hope that this vaccine can benefit as many children as possible. While it provides broader coverage, the innovative PHiD-CV will be priced significantly lower than the currently available pneumococcal vaccine so that more Filipinos will be able to protect their children from needless suffering and long-term consequences of this disease.”

In March 2009, GSK implemented a pioneering 30-50% price reduction on most of its major brands, including its treatments for pneumonia and other bacterial infections, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ulcer, bronchitis, nausea and vomiting. In April 2009, GSK also reduced the prices of its new allergy treatments.

GSK’s next generation pneumococcal vaccine received approval from the Bureau of Food and Drugs on 9 July 2009. It is indicated in the Philippines for the active immunization of infants and children from six weeks up to two years of age against disease caused by S.pneumoniae strains 1, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F and against acute otitis media caused by NTHi.

Parents are advised to ask their pediatricians about pneumococcal disease prevention as early as their first clinic visit with their babies to help avoid needless suffering, hospitalization and long-term consequences for their child.