Regulatory

WHO approves new child vaccine

Last Updated: 2006-09-26 13:27:02 -0400 (Reuters Health)

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) gave Dutch biotech firm Crucell the green light on Tuesday to start selling a new vaccine for protection against five major childhood diseases.

The vaccine, Quinvaxem, offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Crucell said in a statement that WHO's decision to grant "prequalification" meant it could start selling Quinvaxem to aid organisations UNICEF and PAHO, the Pan American Health Organisation.

Crucell estimates the current demand for the Quinvaxem vaccine at more than 50 million doses, with annual demand expected to increase to more than 150 million per year over the next five years.