Single Hib vaccine Vaxem Hib exits Korean market

Lost competitiveness against combined vaccine, presumably to focus on Infanrix

Apparently, there are now only two single Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines left in the market that prevents cerebromeningitis in children by blocking Hib bacteria.

 

Experts analyze, although a part of National Immunization Program, single Hib vaccine has lost its competitiveness in Korean market against other combination vaccines covering various viral infection.

 

According to Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has dropped the license on Vaxem Hib on Feb.

 

25.

 

It was not a surprise.

 

GSK has suspended supply of Vaxem Hib since August last year.

 

The company stated, “In the process of integrating and maintaining the production line to enhance efficiency in the vaccine business, the company has inevitably decided to suspend supply of Vaxem Hib that has been supplied only to Korean market.” Previously, GSK had suspended supply of Hib vaccine Hiberix in 2016.

 

The license on Hiberix was terminated last August.

 

` Vaxem Hib was absorbed to GSK when it merged with Novartis Vaccine Division in 2015.

 

But with the latest termination of license, the company is completely pulling out from the Korean Hib single vaccine market.

 

Rather, the global company would concentrate on combined vaccine market with Infanrix IPV/ Hib combination vaccine.

 

Now, LG Chem’s Euhib and Sanofi Pasteur’s Activ are the only Hib vaccines in Korea.

 

Euhib was developed solely with Korean-made technology and received license in August 2010 after eight years of development costing approximately 7.7 billion won.

 

Thanks to Euhib, Korea has a self-sustainable supply of Hib vaccine.

 

Hib vaccine used to be a blockbuster market generating 10 billion won per each item.

 

But Hib vaccine lost its competitiveness as combination vaccine covering Hib virus was designated as a National Immunization Program since 2017.

 

According to last year’s data disclosed by IQVIA, Vaxem Hib, Euhib and Activ made around 700 million won, 500 million won and 64 million won, respectively.

 

Meanwhile, pentavalent vaccine Pentaxim by Sanofi Pasteur has generated 11.9 billion last year.

 

With a single shot, Pentaxim can prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis and invasive infection by Hib bacterium.

 

Frequently found in children under five, Hib bacteria could cause invasive infection-induced diseases, such as meningitis, epiglottitis, septic arthritis, pneumonia and cellulitis.

 

Approximately 90 percent of pediatric meningitis is reportedly induced from the bacteria.

 

Accordingly, Korea’s National Immunization Program has included Hib vaccine since March 2013.