A recent study has concluded that the Novartis Meningitis B vaccine, in its investigational stage, may be the first to protect infants six months and older against multiple strains of potentially deadly meningococcal B bacteria. Almost all of the infants (six to 12 months old) enrolled in the study gave a positive and fast response to it.. The meningococcal B strains are one of the major causes of bacterial meningitis throughout the world. Novartis MenB vaccine contains multiple bacterial surface proteins (antigens) that are believed to be found in most meningococcal B strains.

New Phase III data released by Novartis Pharmaceuticals showed that its under-development vaccine against four types of meningococcal strains produces a better antibody response than a commonly used existing vaccine. New Phase III data for Menveo® (MenACWY-CRM) depicts that the vaccine produced a greater immune response against meningococcal strains A, C, W-135 and Y in adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years, as compared to Sanofi Pasteur’s Menactra®. Infection with any of these four vaccine-preventable serogroups (strains) can lead to bacterial meningitis, an infection of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord, or sepsis, a serious infection of the blood stream.

Novartis has opened a new research institute in Siena, Italy. The Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health (NVGH) has a nonprofit mission of developing vaccines for diseases prevalent in developing countries. The institute aims at addressing the unmet vaccine needs of developing nations by researching new vaccines specifically for these countries.