Quadrivalent Vaccines
A quadrivalent vaccine combines four different antigens with a special process
The pediatric quadrivalent vaccines can be divided into three categories:
- Pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, and polio vaccine (DTaP-IPV) can prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and poliomyelitis. Kinrix®, developed by GlaxoSmithKline, was approved by the United States in June 2008 and was administered as a booster to the pentavalent vaccine Pediarix® for the fifth DTaP and the fourth IPV booster for children aged 4 to 6. In March 2015, the United States approved another DTaP-IPV quadrivalent vaccine, Quadracel™, a single-dose quadrivalent vaccine developed by Sanofi that was also used for booster immunization against DTaP and IPV. Still, it suits children previously vaccinated with Pentacel® or Vaxelis™ vaccines. The main difference between the two vaccines is that Quadracel ™ does not contain latex, while Kinrix® contains latex. In addition to the two DTaP-IPV quadrivalent vaccines, Sanofi mainly provides the R epavax® quadrivalent vaccine to the European market.
- Pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (DTaP-Hib) can simultaneously protect against four diseases: pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The quadrivalent vaccine produced by Beijing Minhai Biotechnology, a subsidiary of Kangtai Biotechnology, is a DTaP-Hib vaccine independently developed in China. It entered the market as a non-NIP vaccine in September 2013 and was re-registered and approved by the National Medical Products Administration in 2022. The validity period of the drug approval number has been extended to 2027.
- The measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine (MMRV) can prevent measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. Unlike the first two types of quadrivalent vaccine developed based on the DTaP combination vaccine, the MMRV vaccine is an innovative quadrivalent vaccine based on the MMR combination vaccine. Proquad®, produced by Merck, was approved in the US in September 2005 and by the European Union in April 2006.
Pentavalent Vaccines
A pentavalent vaccine combines five different antigens through a special manufacturing process.
The pentavalent vaccines can be divided into two categories:
- Pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib), which simultaneously prevents pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b-induced infections. Sanofi’s DTaP-IPV-Hib pentavalent vaccine (Pediacel ®) was approved in Canada as early as 2000 and approved by the US FDA in June 2008 (the commercial name used in the United States is Pentacel®). It was launched in China in May 2011 under the commercial name of Pan Tai Xin (Pentaxim ®). Sanofi Pasteur produced, pre-filled, and labeled the vaccine in France, while the packaging process was completed either in France or at Sanofi Pasteur’s Shenzhen Plant.
- Pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and hepatitis B vaccine (DTaP-IPV-HepB), which simultaneously prevent pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and hepatitis B-induced infections. The US FDA approved GlaxoSmithKline’s Pediarix® in December 2002. Pediarix® was approved as a 3-dose series for infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative mothers. Children can be vaccinated from 6 weeks of age until their 7th birthday. In Europe, the vaccine, commercially called Infanrix Penta®, was certified by the EU in October 2000. It has been withdrawn now and replaced by the Infanrix Hexa® hexavalent vaccine.
Hexavalent Vaccines
The hexavalent vaccine combines six different antigens through special manufacturing processes. The evidence pool only covers one type of hexavalent vaccine – pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenza b, and hepatitis B vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB). It can simultaneously prevent infections caused by pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and hepatitis B. Infanrix Hexa® of GlaxoSmithKline and Infanrix Penta ® received EU approval on October 23, 2000. The Infanrix Hexa® schedule requires vaccination completion within six months of birth and consists of two or three doses, with at least one month spacing between doses. In addition to the hexavalent vaccine produced by GlaxoSmithKline, there is a Vaxelis™ vaccine developed by the MSP Vaccines, a joint venture of Sanofi Pasteur and Merck. The US FDA approved it in December 2018. The Vaxelis™ schedule includes three doses and was approved for children from six weeks to four years old.
*Information sources are the official websites of the vaccine manufacturers.
Content Editor: Siqi Jin
Page Editor: Ziqi Liu
