Singapore, Feb 08, 2012: The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has published a study that shows Bexsero induced a robust immune response against meningococcal B disease in the vast majority of infants vaccinated. These results also show that Bexsero can fit into various vaccination schedules in the first year of life when the likelihood of contracting this often-deadly disease is greatest. The study also demonstrated that Bexsero has an acceptable tolerability profile.

"The publication of these results in JAMA add to the growing body of evidence supporting Bexsero's potential to help protect all age groups, from infants to adults, against this devastating disease," said Andrin Oswald, Head of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Division. "Bexsero holds great promise in providing a solution to a major public health concern - the lack of a routine vaccine providing broad protection against MenB,"

Meningococcal disease is feared and often deadly. It is easily misdiagnosed and can kill within 24 hours of onset and may cause serious, life-long disabilities. The majority of cases in some of the developed world are due to serogroup B (MenB), with a disproportionate disease burden in infants. In general, approximately one in ten of people who contract meningococcal disease will die despite appropriate treatment of the survivors, around one in five suffers permanent disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss, or learning difficulties. Meningococcal disease most commonly affects otherwise healthy persons, and in many cases physicians cannot diagnose and treat an infected child soon enough to avoid serious outcomes, therefore prevention through vaccination is the best means to counter meningococcal disease.

"The development of a broadly protective vaccine against MenB disease has been a formidable challenge and, if successful, would represent an enormous step forward in the prevention of childhood meningitis," said Dr Matthew Snape, consultant in Vaccinology and General Paediatrics, University of Oxford, UK. "This study provides important data on how well infants' immune systems respond to this new MenB vaccine when given in a variety of schedules. This information is vital when considering how the vaccine could be incorporated into different immunization regimens around the world."