Synflorix Receives European Marketing Authorisation For Additional Pneumonia Indication

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) recently announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation for an additional indication for Synflorix for the immunisation against pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children from six weeks up to five years of age.

This approval was based on results from a phase III double-blind, randomised, controlled trial named COMPAS. This efficacy study for a latest-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) was conducted in 63 centres in South America, involving 24,000 children. For more information, visit http://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/h508.htm.

“GSK welcomes this approval for an additional Synflorix indication in Europe,” said Thomas Breuer, Senior Vice-President and Lead Physician, GSK Vaccines. “Pneumonia continues to kill more children under five than AIDs, malaria and measles combined and affects both the developed and the developing world. There are three million cases of pneumonia in children under five in Europe each year. With this new indication, we are confident that Synflorix will contribute to a significant reduction in cases of pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.”

About Synflorix
Synflorix is currently approved in the EU and 90 other countries for active immunisation against invasive disease and acute otitis media caused byStreptococcus pneumoniae in infants and children from six weeks up to five years of age. Around 40 countries have chosen Synflorix in their universal mass vaccination programmes and 67 countries already have an approved indication for pneumonia.Synflorix is not approved for use in the U.S.

Important safety information
The most common adverse reaction observed after primary vaccination with Synflorixin infants was redness at the injection site and irritability. For further important safety information about the currently licensed indications for Synflorix, please visit theElectronic Medicines Compendium to view the Synflorix EU Patient Information Leaflet.

About pneumonia
Globally, it is estimated that more than 150 million children under five suffer from pneumonia every year, and almost 1.1 million children under five years of age die worldwide. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the major bacterial pathogen in pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae is thought to be responsible for 30%–50% of pneumonia cases.

About GSK 
GSK – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For more information, visit www.gsk.com.