KIEV, UKRAINE - 2018/11/21: In this photo illustration, the Merck & Co. Pharmaceutical company logo ... [+]
What?
The U.S. FDA approved a new version of Merck's (NYSE:MRK) pneumococcal vaccine that prevents invasive disease caused by 15 strains of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae.
So What?
Pneumococcal vaccines are lucrative and were the single largest vaccine market by revenue prior to Covid-19. Pfizer's blockbuster Prevnar 13, which generates over $5.8 billion in annual sales is the market leader in the space.
While Merck's new shot protects against a few more strains compared to Prevnar 13, the successor to Prevnar, which was approved in June, covers a total of 20 strains. That said, Merck notes that its shot provides a stronger immune response against a strain called serotype 3, which is the leading cause of invasive pneumococcal diseases in adults in the United States.
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