MRK Merck and Co Inc

By Colin Kellaher

Merck & Co. on Tuesday reported positive results for its V114 investigational 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in two additional phase 3 studies.

The Kenilworth, N.J., drug maker said V114 met its primary immunogenicity objectives and elicited a strong immune response for all 15 serotypes included in the vaccine, including 22F and 33F, the two serotypes targeted by V114 but not by the currently available 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Merck said V114 was generally well tolerated in both studies, with a safety profile consistent with that observed in previously reported studies.

Merck in September said a pair of phase 3 studies evaluating V114 had met their primary immunogenicity objectives.

The company said its plans for global regulatory licensure applications, beginning with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before the end of the year, remain on track.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 20, 2020 07:23 ET (11:23 GMT)

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