Pfizer launches 'Prevenar 20' for adults aged 18 years+

Contains the highest number of serotypes among domestically approved pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

Based on partnership with Chong Kun Dang since 2017, Pfizer will challenge the market

Product photo of Prevenar 20

Pfizer Korea (CEO and President Dong-wook Oh) announced on June 10 that its 'Prevenar 20,' a 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for adults, was launched in early June, and it is now available for vaccination for individuals aged 18 years and older.

 

Prevenar 20 will be supplied to the Korean market for adults through a co-promotion and distribution partnership between Pfizer Korea and Chong Kun Dang.

 

The two companies have maintained a partnership since their initial domestic distribution agreement for Prevenar 13 in 2017.

 

Through this new partnership for Prevenar 20, they aim to strengthen their position in the adult vaccine market and continue efforts to enhance vaccine accessibility.

 

Prevenar 20 is a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on October 31, 2024.

 

Compared to the 13-valent vaccine, Prevenar 20 has added seven additional pneumococcal serotypes.

 

Among domestically approved pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, it contains the most serotypes (as of 10/31/2024).

 

It can be used for preventing invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia caused by pneumococcus in all ages postnatal 6 weeks or above (serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 8, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F, 33F).

 

The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases (KSID) has recently announced new recommendations for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine as part of its revised 2025 guidelines for adult vaccination.

 

KSID's adult immunization board has recommended sequential vaccination with PCV20 or PCV15, followed by PPSV23, for adults aged 65 and older and for high-risk individuals aged 19-64.

 

This high-risk group includes patients with chronic diseases, cerebrospinal fluid leakage or cochlear implants, immunocompromised patients, and individuals with functional or anatomical asplenia.

 

Chan-woo Song, Vice President of the Primary Care Business Unit at Pfizer Korea, said, "We are delighted to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with Chong Kun Dang through this co-promotion and distribution partnership for Prevenar 20." He added, "This collaboration between our two companies has expanded the opportunity for Prevenar 20 to be made available to more adults." Young-Joo Kim, CEO of Chong Kun Dang, said, "Based on the partnership that began with Prevenar 13, we find it meaningful to be able to supply the newly launched adult Prevenar 20 in Korea," and added, "Both companies will continue to collaborate to contribute to the development of the domestic vaccine market and strive to provide a healthier future for more patients." Meanwhile, the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of Prevenar 20 were confirmed through global clinical trials.

 

In the United States and Sweden, 3,902 adults aged 18 and older who had no prior pneumococcal vaccine history were divided into three age groups: 18-49 years, 50-59 years, and 60 years or older.

 

Individuals aged 60 and above received either Prevenar 20 or PCV13+PPSV23, while those aged 18-59 received either Prevenar 20 or PCV13.

 

Based on the primary immunogenicity endpoint, which was OPA GMT in adults aged 60 and older, Prevenar 20's non-inferiority was confirmed for the 13 serotypes shared with Prevenar 13.

 

Non-inferiority was also confirmed for 6 out of the seven additional serotypes compared to PPSV23.

 

Furthermore, the frequency and severity of local and systemic reactions occurring within 10 days after vaccination with Prevenar 20 or PCV13 were similar.