:: Workshop to explore the role of carriage studies in the evaluation and licensing of new pneumococcal vaccines, MARCH 27-28, 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

Together with WHO, the Pneumocarr consortium is hosting a “Workshop to explore the role of carriage studies in the evaluation and licensing of new pneumococcal vaccines” March 27-28, 2012 at WHO in Geneva, Switzerland.

Vaccine development for pathogens found in the carriage state may be accelerated by inclusion of Vaccine Efficacy against Colonization (Vecol) as an endpoint in the evaluation of new vaccines. The PneumoCarr consortium has been working in the following areas targeting 3 domains to achieve a policy decision:

To develop and publish new statistical, modeling and analytic methods to assess existing and newly conducted clinical studies of VEcol.
To publish “key evidence” review articles summarizing the biologic basis of NP carriage in disease as well as the direct and indirect vaccine effects.
To develop a project outcome document, “Case for Carriage”, for presentation to relevant groups.

The consortium is now in a position to convene a workshop for discussion of VEcol inclusion in the evaluation, licensure and implementation pathways for new pneumococcal vaccines that perturb carriage. Together with WHO, the PneumoCarr consortium will bring together relevant professionals from regulatory bodies, vaccine manufacturers, academic groups and public health/immunisation officials to discuss the issues outlined above with a view to reach consensus on the role of VEcol in the assessment and use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, new pneumococcal protein vaccines and other vaccines where an impact on carriage on the target pathogen is anticipated. Participation to the meeting is by invitation only.