Unconfirmed online reports suggest that Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has dismissed its entire 400-person team for the Prevenar 13 vaccine in China, with the vaccine now reportedly under the management of local partner Kyuan, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical logistics giant Shanghai Pharma.
The US pharmaceutical giant has been engaged in global cost-cutting measures, including closing its pharmaceutical science small-molecules division in Sandwich, Kent, UK, shutting down factories in New Jersey, and reducing staff in Colorado, US, in recent months.
Approved in China in 2016, Prevenar 13 is indicated for use in infants and children aged between 6 weeks to 15 months to prevent invasive diseases, including bacteremic pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia, and bacteremia, caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. Pneumoniae). The reported pipeline reduction reflects the competitive landscape of the 13-valent pneumonia vaccine market in China, where domestic companies such as Walvax and Minhai Bio have launched their own versions of the vaccine.- Flcube.com
