November 16, 2012 LONDON (AP) -- Europe's top drug regulator has
recommended approval for the first vaccine against meningitis B,
made by Novartis AG. There are five types of bacterial
meningitis. While vaccines exist to protect against the other
four, none has previously been licensed for type B meningitis.
In Europe, type B is the most common, causing 3,000 to 5,000
cases every year. Meningitis mainly affects infants and
children. It kills about 8 percent of patients and leaves others
with lifelong consequences such as brain damage. In a statement
on Friday, Andrin Oswald of Novartis said he is "proud of the
major advance" the company has made in developing its vaccine
Bexsero. It is aimed at children over two months of age, and
Novartis is hoping countries will include the shot among the
routine ones for childhood diseases such as measles. Novartis
said the immunization has had side effects such as fever and
redness at the injection site. Recommendations from the European
Medicines Agency are usually adopt