Novartis hopes meningitis vaccine will increase market share

NEW YORK Novartis hopes that its new meningitis vaccine will propel it into the vaccine big leagues.

The drug, Menveo, is used to treat the meningitis B serotype. It is expected to enter the U.S. market in the middle of next year, pending approval by the Food and Drug Administration. It is in Phase III trials.

Menveo’s chief competitor is Sanofi-Aventis’ Menactra, also in Phase III trials. Novartis presently ranks fifth among vaccine manufacturers in terms of market share.