The FDA has approved GSK's Penmenvy (Meningococcal Groups A, B, C, W, and Y Vaccine) for use in individuals aged 10 through 25 years. This vaccine is designed to protect against five major serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis (A, B, C, W, and Y), which commonly cause invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).
Penmenvy combines the antigenic components of GSK’s two well-established meningococcal vaccines, Bexsero (Meningococcal Group B Vaccine) and Menveo (Meningococcal [Groups A, C, Y, and W-135] Oligosaccharide Diphtheria CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine). The regulatory application was supported by positive results from two phase 3 trials, which evaluated the vaccine’s safety, tolerability, and immune response in over 4,800 participants aged 10-25.
The safety data demonstrated that the vaccine has a safety profile consistent with GSK’s licensed meningococcal vaccines. Integrating GSK’s MenABCWY vaccine into healthcare provider practices could simplify meningococcal vaccination delivery and help protect more U.S. adolescents against the five common disease-causing serogroups—A, B, C, W, and Y—for which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued recommendations.
Clinical Efficacy and Safety
The FDA's decision was supported by data from two Phase III trials involving over 4,800 participants aged 10-25 years. These studies confirmed that Penmenvy has a safety profile consistent with GSK's licensed meningococcal vaccines and demonstrated non-inferior immunogenicity compared to existing vaccines. The most common side effects reported were pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, and nausea.
Impact on Meningococcal Disease
IMD is an uncommon but serious illness that can lead to death for up to one in six of those who contract it in as little as 24 hours from onset, despite treatment. IMD is easily misdiagnosed, with early symptoms often mistaken for the flu. Approximately one in five survivors may experience long-term consequences such as brain damage, amputations, hearing loss, and nervous system problems. Adolescents and young adults between the ages of 16 and 23 years are one of the groups at highest risk due to common behaviors that help transmit the bacteria that cause IMD, such as living in close quarters like college dormitories, kissing, and sharing drinks, utensils, or smoking devices.
Streamlining Vaccination Delivery
Integrating GSK’s MenABCWY vaccine into healthcare provider practices could simplify meningococcal vaccination delivery and help protect more US adolescents against these five common disease-causing serogroups. Although MenB is the leading cause of IMD among this population, less than 13% receive the recommended two-dose vaccination series; around 32% receive at least one dose. GSK manufactures three of every four MenB doses currently administered in the U.S., positioning the company well to lead in the U.S. market as MenB-containing vaccinations must be completed with the same manufacturer’s MenB vaccine.
Expert Commentary
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, said: “We are excited about the opportunities ahead to help improve meningococcal vaccination coverage in the United States, especially for IMD caused by serogroup B. Building on our global leadership in meningococcal vaccination and our longstanding commitment to address unmet need in disease prevention, we aim to help protect more teens and young adults at a life stage when they are at an increased risk.”
Judy Klein, President and Founder of Unity Consortium, a non-profit organization focused on adolescent health and immunization in the US, said: “The consequences of IMD can be devastating for those who contract it, for their families and friends. We welcome new tools to help protect more adolescents from meningococcal disease. Pentavalent MenABCWY vaccines could help address the disease by providing protection against the five vaccine-preventable serogroups in one vaccine and making it easier for adolescents to get the coverage they need.”
Next Steps
At its meeting on February 26, 2025, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is expected to vote on recommendations for the appropriate use of GSK’s MenABCWY vaccine in adolescents and young adults.
