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news.In a new study of nearly 70,000 infants, Merck's investigational vaccine Rotateq prevented 98% of severe cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis caused by serotypes targeted by the vaccine.
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The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine along with results of a similar study of GlaxoSmithKline’s rotavirus vaccine that was shown to reduce severe rotavirus disease by 85%.
Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe dehydrating gastroenteritis in infants and young children. The study also showed that Rotateq was generally well-tolerated as compared to placebo.
“In the Rotavirus Efficacy and Safety Trial (REST), Rotateq prevented rotavirus gastroenteritis and significantly reduced hospitalizations and emergency room visits from this disease,” said Dr David Matson, principal investigator, and professor of pediatrics at the Center for Pediatric Research, at Eastern Virginia Medical School.