Meningococcal vaccines: Current state and future outlook

Neisseria meningitidis infections are a major public health problem worldwide. Although conventional approaches have not led to development of a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine, a new technique based on genome sequencing has created new perspectives. Recently, a universal serogroup B meningococcal vaccine, Bexsero(®), was licensed in Europe, Australia and United States, following several clinical studies demonstrating its immunogenicity and safety. Availability of this vaccine could contribute positively to human health, by significantly reducing the incidence of meningococcal infections. However, unfavorable cost-effectiveness analysis means that routine vaccination is not currently recommended. Another serogroup meningococcal vaccine, Trumemba(®), was also recently licensed in United States. Like any drug, Bexsero(®) and Trumemba(®) will require close observation to assess their impact on meningococcal epidemiology.