VAXNEUVANCE™ Pneumococcal Vaccine Clinical Trials, Dosage, Indication, News, Side Effects
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Merck's VAXNEUVANCE™ on July 16, 2021, for active immunization for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by 15 serotypes conjugated to a CRM197 carrier protein, including Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F, and 33F, in adults. On June 22, 2022, the FDA approved (STN: 125741) an expanded indication for VAXNEUVANCE, which now includes children aged six weeks through 17 years. The FDA published a Package Insert, Patient Information sheet, and BLA Clinical Review Memorandum; STN: 125741.
On January 28, 2022, the U.S. CDC confirmed that using PCV20 alone or PCV15 in combination with PPSV23 is expected to reduce pneumococcal disease incidence in adults aged 65 years and older, as well as in those aged 19–64 years with certain underlying conditions. Natalie Banniettis, MD, FAAP, Senior Principal Scientist, Global Clinical Development, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., presented (V114, VAXNEUVANCE): Pediatric Clinical Development Program on February 24, 2022. Merck states that vaccinating with VAXNEUVANCE pneumococcal polysaccharides may not protect all vaccine recipients.
On December 15, 2021, the European Commission approved VAXNEUVANCE EMEA/H/C/005477 for use by adults. On October 24, 2022, the European Commission approved the expanded approval for infants, children, and adolescents aged 6 weeks to less than 18 years.
For more information on the VAXNEUVANCE vaccine, visit www.merck.com or this Merck webpage. The brand is trademarked in Canada. ATC code: J07AL02. U.S. Patent No. 8,192,746.
VAXNEUVANCE Vaccine Revenues
On April 26, 2025, Merck announced that Vaxneuvance produced $230 million in revenues. Growth was primarily driven by higher demand in the Europe and Asia Pacific regions, partially offset by lower demand in the U.S. due to competitive pressure. On April 25, 2024, Merck announced that Vaxneuvance generated $219 million in revenues during the first quarter of 2024, representing a 106% increase from the prior year period.
VAXNEUVANCE Vaccine Indication
VAXNEUVANCE is indicated for active immunization to prevent invasive disease caused by the S. pneumoniae serotypes contained in the vaccine in adults. According to the U.S. FDA disclosure, more than 90 types of pneumococcal bacteria can affect adults differently than children. Pneumococcal serotypes not in the currently licensed conjugate vaccine, such as 22F and 33F, are commonly associated with invasive pneumococcal disease. For example, serotypes 22F and 33F now account for 13% of the invasive pneumococcal disease seen among adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. and 7-12% of European adult cases.
Additionally, serotype 3 remains one of the leading causes of invasive pneumococcal disease in adults and children, despite being included in currently available pneumococcal vaccines. For example, in the U.S., the U.S. CDC says that 15% of invasive pneumococcal disease among adults aged 65 and older continues to be caused by serotype 3. And this ranges from 12 to 18% of adult cases across European countries.
Children under the age of 2 are particularly vulnerable to pneumococcal infection, and the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease remains highest in the first year of life. There are 100 different types of pneumococcal bacteria, including serotypes 22F, 33F, and 3, which collectively represent more than a quarter of invasive pneumococcal disease cases in children under 5.
The U.S. CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met on October 20, 2021, and unanimously voted to update pneumococcal vaccination recommendations for adults 65 and older and those ages 19 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions or other disease risk factors. In both groups, the ACIP voted to recommend vaccination with a sequential regimen of VAXNEUVANCE followed by PNEUMOVAX 23 or with a single dose of 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. These updates would apply to adults who have not received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or whose previous pneumococcal vaccination history is unknown.
VAXNEUVANCE Dosage
Merck's VAXNEUVANCE is administered as an intramuscular injection. When PCV15 is used, the CDC recommends a minimum of one year between the administration of PCV15 and PPSV23. A minimum interval of 8 weeks can be considered for adults with an immunocompromising condition, a cochlear implant, or a cerebrospinal fluid leak to minimize the risk of IPD caused by serotypes unique to PPSV23 in these vulnerable groups. Adults who have only received PPSV23 may receive a PCV (either PCV20 or PCV15) ≥ one year after their last PPSV23 dose. When PCV15 is used in individuals with a history of receiving PPSV23, it must be followed by another dose of PPSV23.
VAXNEUVANCE Coadministration
The CDC confirmed PCV15, PCV20, or PPSV23 could be coadministered with QIV in an adult immunization program as concomitant administration (PCV15 or PPSV23 and QIV [Fluarix], PCV20, and adjuvanted QIV [Fluad]) has been demonstrated to be immunogenic and safe. However, slightly lower pneumococcal serotype-specific OPA GMTs or geometric mean concentrations were reported when pneumococcal vaccines were coadministered with QIV than when pneumococcal vaccines were given alone. Currently, there is no data on the coadministration of this vaccine with other vaccines (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine, hepatitis B, or zoster vaccine) among adults. Evaluation of coadministration of PCV15, PCV20, or PPSV23 with COVID-19 vaccines is ongoing.
VAXNEUVANCE Side Effects
Do not administer VAXNEUVANCE to individuals with a severe allergic reaction to any VAXNEUVANCE or diphtheria toxoid component. Additionally, individuals with altered immunocompetence, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may have a reduced immune response to VAXNEUVANCE. The most commonly reported solicited adverse reactions in individuals 18 through 49 years of age were injection site pain (75.8%), fatigue (34.3%), myalgia (28.8%), headache (26.5%), injection site swelling (21.7%), injection site erythema (15.1%) and arthralgia (12.7%). The most commonly reported solicited adverse reactions in individuals 50 years of age and older were injection site pain (66.8%), myalgia (26.9%), fatigue (21.5%), headache (18.9%), injection site swelling (15.4%), injection site erythema (10.9%) and arthralgia (7.7%).
VAERS is a U.S. passive reporting system, meaning it relies on individuals to send in reports of their experiences with a vaccine. However, anyone, including parents and patients, can submit information to VAERS. Furthermore, healthcare providers are required by law to report to VAERS. People are also encouraged to report the adverse side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1–800–FDA–1088.
VAXNEUVANCE Availability
As of 2024, VAXNEUVANCE was available in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe. On April 27, 2023, Merck reported higher sales of VAXNEUVANCE, which increased to $106 million, primarily due to continued uptake in the pediatric indication following its launch in the U.S.
VAXNEUVANCE News
June 13, 2023 - VAXNEUVANCE (V114) was found to be well-tolerated and safe for infants, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics.
October 24, 2022 - Dr. Eliav Barr, SVP, head of global clinical development and chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories, stated in a press release: "With this (EC) approval, we are pleased to bring an important new PCV option to a vulnerable population in Europe, including infants less than one year of age, who typically experience the highest rates of disease."
September 16, 2022 - Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice president, head of global clinical development, and chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories, stated, "We are pleased with the CHMP's positive opinion as it brings us one step closer to our goal of helping to protect against pneumococcal strains that pose a substantial risk to infants and children in Europe."
July 28, 2022 - The U.S. CDC's ACIP unanimously voted to provisionally recommend using VAXNEUVANCE as an option to the currently available 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) for children under 19 years according to the presently recommended PCV13 dosing and schedules.
December 15, 2021 - Merck announced today that the European Commission has approved VAXNEUVANCE for active immunization to prevent invasive disease and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in individuals 18 years of age and older. The approval enables the marketing of VAXNEUVANCE in all 27 member states of the European Union, as well as in Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.
December 1, 2—Merck announced that the U.S. FDA has accepted for Priority Review a supplemental Biologics License Application for VAXNEUVANCE to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease in children six weeks through 17 years of age. Additionally, the FDA has set a target action date under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act of April 1, 2022.
October 20, 2021 - Merck announced the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously voted in favor of updates to pneumococcal vaccination recommendations for adults 65 years and older and adults ages 19 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions (e.g., chronic conditions such as diabetes, chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease, or chronic liver disease, as well as HIV) or other disease risk factors (e.g., smoking, alcoholism). In both groups, the ACIP voted to provisionally recommend vaccination with either a sequential regimen of VAXNEUVANCE followed by PNEUMOVAX23 or a single dose of 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. These updates would apply to adults who have not received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or whose previous pneumococcal vaccination history is unknown.
October 15, 2021 - Merck announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) had recommended the approval of VAXNEUVANCE™.
August 25, 2021 - Merck announced topline results from the pivotal PNEU-PED (V114-029) study evaluating the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of VAXNEUVANCE™ in 1,720 healthy infants enrolled between 42-90 days of age. In the PNEU-PED study, primary endpoints demonstrated that VAXNEUVANCE had a safety profile generally comparable to PCV13 following receipt of any vaccine dose. Secondary endpoints demonstrated statistically superior immune responses for VAXNEUVANCE compared to PCV13 for shared serotypes three and unique serotypes 22F and 33F, based on prespecified criteria. Additionally, VAXNEUVANCE showed non-inferior immune responses to antigens contained in several routinely used pediatric vaccines when administered concomitantly with VAXNEUVANCE or PCV13.
July 16, 2021 - Merck today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved VAXNEUVANCE™ (Pneumococcal 15-valent Conjugate Vaccine) (pronounced VAKS-noo-vans) for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F and 33F in adults 18 years of age and older.
May 20, 2021 - Merck announced that V114, the company's investigational 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, met its primary immunogenicity and safety endpoints in the V114 Phase 3 pediatric clinical program.
January 12, 2—Merck announced that the U.S. FDA accepted for priority review a Biologics License Application (BLA) for V114, Merck's investigational 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease in adults 18 years of age and older. Additionally, the FDA established a target action date under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, as of July 18, 2021. The European Medicines Agency is also reviewing an application for licensure of V114 in adults.
October 20, 2020 - Merck announced Positive topline results from Two Additional Phase 3 Adult Studies Evaluating V114, Merck's Investigational 15-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine. In the PNEU-PATH (V114-016) study, healthy adults 50 or older received V114 or PCV13, followed by PNEUMOVAX® 23 one year later. Following vaccination with PNEUMOVAX 23 (month 13), immune responses were comparable in vaccination groups for the 15 serotypes in V114. Results also showed that at 30 days post-vaccination with either V114 or PCV13 (day 30), immune responses were comparable for both groups across the 13 serotypes shared by the conjugate vaccines and higher in the V114 group for serotypes 22F and 33F, the two serotypes not included in PCV13.
January 30, 2019 - Merck announced that V114 received a Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent invasive IPD caused by the vaccine serotypes in pediatric patients six weeks to 18 years of age.
VAXNEUVANCE 15 Clinical Trials
Merck's V114 Pneumococcal Vaccine has undergone many clinical trials, and Merck continues to test the vaccine candidate under many scenarios. The registered 28 clinical trials can be accessed here.