Prevnar 20 added to the National Immunization Program

Will compete with Vaxneuvance

Introduction of PCV20 to NIP was reviewed during the 1st Korea Expert Committee on Immunization Practices meeting,

The same eligibility and standard immunization schedule is applied for PCV 13 and PCV 15

Eligible people will likely receive Prevnar 20 rather than Prevnar 13

Pfizer is signaling full-fledged competition with the addition of its new pneumococcal vaccine, Prevnar 20, to the National Immunization Program (NIP) for children.

 

프리베나20 제품사진

According to industry sources on the 21st, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency recently reviewed the introduction of PCV20 NIP for children during the 1st Korea Expert Committee on Immunization Practices meeting.

 

As a result, the committee decided that PCV20 would be introduced under the NIP, for the same target population and standard immunization schedule as for PCV13 and PCV15, which were already covered through the NIP.

 

Initially, it was widely believed that the entry of Prevnar 20 into the NIP would be delayed to next year because the Public Procurement Service announced a plan to execute a tender for the purchase of Prevnar 13, but discussions progressed with Pfizer compromising its price with the government.

 

At the meeting, the committee allowed the cross-vaccination of Prevnar 20 as an exception for the additional immunization after completing basic immunization with Prevnar 13.

 

Currently, the vaccine price and immunization practice for pneumococcal vaccines are fully covered by the government for children under the age of 12.

 

Both Prevnar 13 and Prevnar 20 are administered once to adults aged 18 or older, but infants and those who have not received the basic vaccination are required to receive multiple doses at regular intervals depending on the number of months.

 

For example, Prevnar 13 is administered 3 times at 0.5 mL per dose at 2, 4, and 6 months of age in infants up to 6 months of age, so those who started this vaccination with Prevnar 13 may receive subsequent vaccination with Prevnar 20.

 

In fact, Prevnar 20 is indicated for “Infants, children, and adolescents who have received at least 1 dose of Prevnar/Prevnar 13 may switch to Prevnar 20.” Prevnar 20 is a new pneumococcal vaccine that Pfizer has introduced in 14 years, and it is a vaccine that adds 7 serotypes (serotypes 8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 22F, and 33F) to the previously supplied Prevenar13.

 

The industry believes that although Prevnar 13 is already on the market, the weight will naturally shift to using Prevnar 20.

 

Pfizer is expected to accelerate preparations for the launch as the pediatric NIP, which had been a concern for the launch, has been resolved.

 

The industry expects the launch of Prevnar 20 to take place in April, and the sales of Prevnar 20 for infants and toddlers will be maintained by Korea Vaccine, which was previously in charge of sales of Prevnar 13.

 

The company is likely to employ a sales strategy that naturally absorbs the market share of its predecessor, Prevnar 13.

 

In the case of Vaxneuvance, the company’s strategy is important as its competitor entered the market just one year after its launch.

 

It is predicted its company will seek opportunities in the timing when people switch from Prevenar 13 to another vaccine.

 

During the media seminar that was held last year for Vaxneuvance, Jaeyoung Cho, Executive Business Unit Director of Vaccines at MSD, said, “The number of infants and toddlers receiving their initial dose of the pneumococcal vaccine, which is covered through NIP, as well as those switching from the existing 13-valent vaccine to Vaxneuvance have been increasing.” “Like Vaxneuvance, which was also applied to the NIP upon its release, we expect Prevnar 20 to quickly expand its influence in the market,” said a vaccine industry official.

 

”Since both Prevnar 13 and 20 are Pfizer vaccines, the switching hurdle is relatively low, so MSD would likely be considering countermeasures.”