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Pfizer details new focus on maternal vaccines

July 22, 2015 1:24 AM UTC

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) said it is developing three preclinical programs as part of its maternal immunization vaccine strategy, in which it will develop vaccines administered to pregnant women that are designed to protect an infant at birth. The strategy includes one program focused on group B Streptococcus infection; a second on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); and a third focused on cytomegalovirus (CMV) that came from Pfizer's January acquisition of Redvax GmbH.

"If we find a way to immunize the mother so there is sufficient protective antibody on board at the time the baby is born, we have an opportunity to reduce the infections or at least reduce the hospitalizations," said Kathrin Jansen, SVP and CSO of vaccines R&D. ...