GSK challenges Meningococcal serogroup B mkt with Bexsero

GSK releases Bexsero, which offers strength against the Meningococcal serogroup, following the release of Menveo

The proportion of meningococcal serogroup B in Korea increased to 78% recently...accounts for a large share of patients in Korea

GSK Korea emphasizes its joint marketing strategy for Menveo-Bexsero, rather than occupation of a specific vaccine market

GSK and Sanofi, the leading meningococcal vaccine companies in Korea, are set to face new competition with the approval of their next-generation vaccines.

 

GSK Korea plans to gain competitivity with Bexsero, which has strengths in protecting against serogroup B, which accounts for the largest share of meningococcal infections in Korea since 2010.

 

#1 GSK Korea held a press conference to celebrate the launch of Bexsero, the first meningococcal serogroup B vaccine in Korea, and discussed the current status of meningococcal B outbreaks and the effectiveness of its vaccine.

 

Meningococcal infections can cause invasive meningococcal infections, meningitis, and sepsis.

 

Invasive meningococcal infection progresses rapidly and can cause death within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

 

Even with treatment, the disease is deadly, with a fatality rate of 8-15%.

 

"Globally, meningococcal infections are most prevalent in infants under one year of age compared to other age groups,” explained Hyun-Mi Kang, Professor of Pediatrics, Seoul St.Mary’s Hospital, who made a presentation at the event, “It causes bacterial meningitis and sepsis, and one to two out of 10 survivor also  experience brain damage, hearing loss, and limb loss.” Typical serogroups of meningococci that cause invasive meningococcal infections in humans include A, B, C, W, X, and Y.

 

The most predominant meningococcal serogroup in Korea, the United States, and Europe is serogroup B, with high levels found in infancy and adolescence.

 

From 2010 to 2016, the proportion of meningococcal B serogroup cases identified in Korea was 28%, but from 2017 to 2020, the rate increased significantly to 78%.

 

"The prevalence of meningococcal serogroups varies across countries and time periods, so it is not easy to predict," said Professor Kang.

 

"In Korea, the serogroup B meningococcal infection cases has increased in recent years, increasing the need for its prevention.” GSK had launched Bexsero to address this situation in Korea.

 

"The predominance of meningococcal B in Korea has made it necessary for us to introduce a vaccine to prevent infections caused by meningococcal B," said Dr.

 

Joon Bang, Director of Medical Affairs at GSK Korea.

 

Meningococcal B's capsular polysaccharide is structurally similar to human tissue, which has made vaccine development challenging due to the risk of autoimmune damage.

 

GSK developed Bexsero by applying novel technologies that employ genome sequencing.

 

Since its initial European approval in 2013, GSK has accumulated over a decade of experience in preventing meningococcal B infections, conducting 17 studies on subjects aged 2 months to adults.

 

The most predominant meningococcal serogroup in Korea, the United States, and Europe is serogroup B.

 

However, meningococcal vaccines are not mandatory and are being administered without reimbursement, which means that patient opinions, pharmaceutical company strategies, and pricing influence market competition.

 

With GSK's Menveo and Sanofi's Menactra currently available in the market, the launch price of Bexserois also an area of keen interest.

 

"Bexsero is not intended as a replacement to Menveo; the scope of prevention offered by the two vaccines are different," said Hyunji Kwon, Head of GSK's Vaccine Business Unit in Korea.

 

"We cannot give a specific number because the price of Bexsero is set after a comprehensive review of the vaccine's functions, efficacy, and value."