Medics hail success of vaccine in fight against meningitis

Child health experts hailed the success of a medical trial which could lead to the widespread vaccination of children against deadly meningitis B.

Data presented by pharmaceutical giant Novartis revealed that a large majority of infants given a new test drug achieved a "robust immune response" against deadly strains of the disease.

Charity Meningitis UK said the results could eventually lead to a vaccine that would save the lives of thousands of children.

Meningitis B is the most common form of the disease, causing up to 80 per cent of cases in the UK. It is also one of the most deadly, with symptoms that can kill within 24 to 48 hours of onset.

But due to its complex nature, it has been the hardest to immunise against. There are no widespread vaccines in existence.

Scientists examining the potential of Novartis's Multicomponent Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine (4CMenB) against the disease, gave injections to 3,600 infants as part of an ongoing trial.

They found that the large majority of the babies displayed a robust immune response against three strains of Meningitis B causing bacteria.

In addition, it was seen to have an acceptably low level of adverse reaction when given in conjunction with other infant vaccines.

This suggests it could be used as a vaccine in the first year of life - when it is most needed.

The results of the trial were presented yesterday at a conference in Banff, Canada.

Dr Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity at Oxford University said: "Meningitis B can be devastating for affected families and is a major concern for paediatricians. The disease can strike healthy children without warning and, in some countries, is the leading infectious cause of death in early life.

"Many cases of meningitis are prevented today by the vaccines we give to our children, but the more complex meningitis B remains as a major threat to public health."

Paul Langford, chair of Meningitis UK's scientific advisory panel, said: "The latest results from this study are very encouraging and we hope these promising developments will ultimately lead to a meningitis B vaccine that will be given to children in this country.

"The considerable challenge of producing an effective vaccine against meningococcal group B has always been the holy grail of researchers and vaccine companies.

"The results from this study do not allow a definitive answer to show whether this has finally been met but suggest that the goal may be within reach."

He added: "If the promise shown by this vaccine can be translated to the clinic, and is as successful as the meningococcal group C vaccine introduced in 1999, there is the prospect of elimination of most meningococcal disease from the UK and saving thousands of lives in the future."