- First African Nation Plans to Phase in Routine Vaccination Program
Against Pneumococcal Disease for Infants and Young Children -
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), today announced that
South Africa has initiated an immunization program against pneumococcal
disease with PREVENAR(R) (Pneumococcal Saccharide Conjugated Vaccine,
Adsorbed), a vaccine which helps protect infants and young children against
the seven vaccine serotypes causing the majority of pneumococcal disease
worldwide. The South African government launched the pneumococcal disease
immunization program in the Eastern Cape district of Ukhahlamba last week
and has plans to expand the program nationwide by the end of March 2009.
This historic initiative will support the United Nations' Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce child mortality in children younger than
five years of age. Including South Africa, there are now 27 countries that
have included PREVENAR in their national immunization programs.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumococcal disease
causes nearly 1.6 million deaths in children each year and is the leading
vaccine-preventable cause of death in children younger than five years of
age worldwide.
"South Africa's decision to introduce PREVENAR into the national
childhood immunization schedule will bring this potentially life-saving
vaccine to children in need," says Joseph Mahady, President, Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals. "Given the documented public health benefits that have
been seen in other regions where PREVENAR is routinely used, this
announcement holds great promise for the more than one million children
born every year in South Africa."
Given the significant burden of pneumococcal disease and the
demonstrated vaccine efficacy, in March 2007, WHO recommended priority
inclusion of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in national
childhood immunization programs worldwide. Recently, the Strategic Advisory
Group of Experts (SAGE) to WHO issued a preliminary recommendation that
pneumococcal disease prevention be ranked as a very high priority on a
global basis.
PREVENAR(R), the only licensed pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, is now
available in 88 countries around the world, with more than 180 million
doses distributed.
Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal disease affects both children and adults and is a leading
cause of illness and death worldwide. Pneumococcal disease is caused by the
bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and describes a group of illnesses,
including invasive infections, such as bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as
well as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections, including otitis
media.
Important Safety Information for PREVENAR*
In clinical studies (n=18,168), the most frequently reported adverse
events included injection site reactions, fever (>38 degrees C/100.4
degrees F), irritability, drowsiness, restless sleep, decreased appetite,
vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Risks are associated with all vaccines,
including PREVENAR(R). Hypersensitivity to any vaccine component, including
diphtheria toxoid, is a contraindication to its use. PREVENAR does not
provide 100 percent protection against vaccine serotypes or protect against
nonvaccine serotypes.
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, has leading products in the
areas of women's health care, infectious disease, gastrointestinal health,
central nervous system, inflammation, transplantation, hemophilia,
oncology, vaccines and nutritional products.
Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven pharmaceutical and
health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery,
development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines,
biotechnology products, nutritionals and non-prescription medicines that
improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company's major
divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort
Dodge Animal Health.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without
limitation, the inherent uncertainty of the timing and success of, and
expense associated with, research, development, regulatory approval and
commercialization of our products and pipeline products; government
cost-containment initiatives; restrictions on third-party payments for our
products; substantial competition in our industry, including from branded
and generic products; emerging data on our products and pipeline products;
the importance of strong performance from our principal products and our
anticipated new product introductions; the highly regulated nature of our
business; product liability, intellectual property and other litigation
risks and environmental liabilities; uncertainty regarding our intellectual
property rights and those of others; difficulties associated with, and
regulatory compliance with respect to, manufacturing of our products; risks
associated with our strategic relationships; economic conditions including
interest and currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in generally
accepted accounting principles; trade buying patterns; the impact of
legislation and regulatory compliance; risks and uncertainties associated
with global operations and sales; and other risks and uncertainties,
including those detailed from time to time in our periodic reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our current reports
on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K,
particularly the discussion under the caption "Item 1A, RISK FACTORS" in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which
was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2008.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these
risk factors. We assume no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
developments or otherwise.
SOURCE Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
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Related links:
http://www.wyeth.com
CONTACT:
Media: Lili Gordon of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals,
+1-484-865-6671, or Douglas Petkus of Wyeth, +1-973-660-5218; or
Investors: Justin Victoria of Wyeth, +1-973-660-5340
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