Expanded use of Wyeth vaccine can mean boost in sales

NEW YORK Annual sales of a vaccine for bacteria that cause meningitis could more than double, depending on action by the Food and Drug Administration, according to published reports.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that sales of Wyeth’s Prevnar (pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine [diphtheria CRM197 protein]), currently at $2.7 billion, could increase to $6 billion or $7 billion, if the FDA approves its use in adults 50 and older.

Ninety-one strains of pneumococci bacteria cause meningitis, making vaccines for the bacteria difficult to create.