• First pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that fights against 20 serotypes leading to most of the invasive pneumococcal diseases and pneumonia^2,3— one of the leading causes of death in Hong Kong⁴ — has been approved by Hong Kong Department of Health in April 2023 and is now available in Hong Kong.

• Helps combat against more serotypes of pneumococcal disease than any other pneumococcal conjugate vaccines^2,3, building on Pfizer’s more than 20 years of legacy and innovation in developing pneumococcal conjugate vaccines 

• Availability of the Pneumococcal 20-Valent Conjugate Vaccine supports Hong Kong Health Bureau’s Primary Healthcare Blueprint with a shifted focus to preventive care in addressing the new challenges to healthcare system brought about by an ageing population in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, 10 AUGUST 2023 — Today, Pfizer announced in Hong Kong the availability of its 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) that fights against invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia caused by 20 Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) serotypes. This vaccine is for active immunisation to fight against pneumococcal disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 8, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F, and 33F in adults aged 18 years and older (please refer to package insert¹), forging ahead the company’s ongoing commitment to help stand up to certain potentially serious infectious diseases.

The approval and availability of PCV20 in Hong Kong, underscore Pfizer’s over 20 years of growing legacy and experience in developing and supplying innovative pneumococcal conjugate vaccines that have had a pivotal impact on the global disease burden.³ The availability of the new vaccine also supports Hong Kong Health Bureau’s Primary Healthcare Blueprint that focuses on improving population health and quality of life by fostering a change among Hongkongers from treatment-oriented to prevention-oriented mindset.

“The market availability of PCV20 today signals the importance of continually addressing the ever-evolving burden of pneumococcal diseases. We see the health demand as particularly critical with the rapidly ageing landscape in Hong Kong, therefore the urgency to ensure comprehensive coverage for the population,” said Krishnamoorthy Sundaresan, General Manager, Pfizer Hong Kong, and Macau. “As the city progresses to full resumption of tourism and economic activities, Pfizer remains committed to continue playing a key role to support adults to fight against this widespread life-threatening disease, in which the infection risk could be contributed by travels.”

In general, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) – pneumonia that is contracted outside of a healthcare setting – is a serious disease that has a huge impact on both the healthcare system and individuals.⁵ According to the Department of Health, pneumonia is the third most common cause for hospitalization in Hong Kong⁶ and second leading cause of deaths⁴, responsible for more than 8,292 deaths annually⁶. It can also impose a lasting influence on a person’s life, such as decreasing their life expectancy and increasing their risk of future cardiovascular disease events.^7,8,9,10,11

For more information about the new generation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, please go to your local healthcare providers.

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About PCV20
PCV20 is Pfizer’s next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that includes capsular polysaccharide conjugates for the 13 serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F) already included in Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM197 Protein]. The vaccine also contains capsular polysaccharide conjugates for seven additional serotypes (8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 22F and 33F) that cause invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and have been associated with high case-fatality rates, antibiotic resistance, and/or meningitis. PCV20 contains the broadest serotype coverage of any available pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and helps combat against the 20 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in the vaccine.

About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients’ Lives
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. To learn more, please visit us on www.pfizer.com.hk and like us on YouTube at www.youtube.com/c/pfizerhongkong. 

DISCLOSURE NOTICE:
The information contained in this release is as of 10 August 2023. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward‐looking information about 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20), including its potential benefits; an approval in Hong Kong by Hong Kong Department of Health in April 2023; its use for active immunisation to fight against invasive disease and pneumonia caused by 20 Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) serotypes in individuals 18 years of age or older, a potential pediatric indication that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties regarding the commercial success of PCV20; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for our clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from our clinical studies; whether and when any biologics license applications may be filed in particular jurisdictions for PCV20 for the prevention of invasive disease and pneumonia in adults age 18 years or older or for any other potential indications; whether and when the sBLA pending in the U.S. may be approved and whether and when any such other applications that may be pending or filed for PCV20 may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the product’s benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the product’s efficacy and, if approved, whether PCV20 will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of PCV20; uncertainties regarding the ability to obtain recommendations from vaccine advisory or technical committees and other public health authorities regarding PCV20 and uncertainties regarding the commercial impact of any such recommendations; the impact of COVID-19 on our business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments. A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2022 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results”, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.

PP-PNR-HKG-0080 AUG-2023

1. PCV20 (Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate, 20-valent absorbed) Prescribing Information. Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited. Version: December 2022
2. Cannon, K., Elder, C., Young, M., Scott, D. A., Scully, I. L., Baugher, G., Peng, Y., Jansen, K. U., Gruber, W. C., & Watson, W. (2021). Vaccine, 39(51), 7494–7502.
3. Essink, B., Sabharwal, C., Cannon, K., Frenck, R., Lal, H., Xu, X., Sundaraiyer, V., Peng, Y., Moyer, L., Pride, M. W., Scully, I. L., Jansen, K. U., Gruber, W. C., Scott, D. A., & Watson, W. (2022).  Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 75(3), 390–398.
4. Department of Health. Leading Cause of all Deaths. https://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/chart_detail/22/. Accessed July 7, 2023
5. Regunath H, Oba Y. Community-Acquired Pneumonia. [Updated 2022 Nov 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430749/. Accessed July 24, 2023
6. Department of Health. Tables on Health Status and Health Services 2016 https://www.dh.gov.hk/english/pub_rec/pub_rec_ar/pdf/1617/supplementary_table2016.pdf. Accessed July 7, 2023
7. Gibson G, Loddenkemper R, Sibille Y, Lundbäck Bo, eds. European Lung White Book. Sheffield, United Kingdom: European Respiratory Society; 2013. Available at: https://www.erswhitebook.org/chapters/acute-lower-respiratory-infections/. Accessed April 5, 2021
8. Sandvall B, Rueda AM, Musher DM. Clin Infect Dis. 2013;56(8):1145-1146.
9. Corrales-Medina VF, Alvarez KN, Weissfeld LA, et al. JAMA. 2015;313(3):264-274.
10. Bergh C, Fall K, Udumyan R, et al. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2017;24(18):1958-1966. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28764553. Accessed April 5, 2021
11. Eurich DT, Marrie TJ, Minhas-Sandhu JK, Majumdar SR. BMJ. 2017;356:j413.