New Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine Approved

Bexsero prevents deadly infection of spinal cord lining

By Scott Roberts

Monday, January 26, 2015

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MONDAY, Jan. 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- The Bexsero vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent the "serogroup B" form of bacterial meningitis among people aged 10 through 25.

Meningococcal disease, or meningitis, is a life-threatening bacterial infection of the bloodstream and the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. N. meningitis bacteria are commonly transmitted by coughing, kissing or sharing utensils, often in tight quarters such as a college dormitory.

Some 500 cases of bacterial meningitis were recorded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2012, of which 160 were caused by serogroup B, the FDA said.

Meningococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics, although this treatment isn't always successful, the agency said.

Bexsero was clinically evaluated among some 7,600 adolescents and young adults. The most common side effects were injection-site swelling and pain, headache, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain, fatigue and chills.

Bexsero is manufactured by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, based in Cambridge, Mass.

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