Pfizer and BioNTech Receive Positive CHMP Opinion for COMIRNATY® in Children 5 to under 12 Years of Age in the European Union
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a positive opinion on the administration of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine COMIRNATY® in children 5 to under 12 years of age. The European Commission (EC) will review the CHMP recommendation and is expected to make a final decision on a variation to the Conditional Marketing Authorization in the near future. If the EC grants the variation regarding a vaccination in this age group, the decision will be immediately applicable to all 27 EU member states. If approved, COMIRNATY will be the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the European Union for individuals 5 to under 12 years of age. The positive opinion adopted by the CHMP is based on scientific evidence shared by the companies, including results from a Phase 2/3 randomized, controlled trial that included ~4,500 children 5 to under 12 years of age (2,268 from the original group and 2,379 from the supplemental safety group). Participants in this age group received a two-dose regimen of 10-µg doses administered 21 days apart, as compared to the 30-µg doses used in individuals 12 years and older. This dose level was carefully selected for use in the trial based on safety, tolerability and immunogenicity data evaluated as part of a dose-ranging study. The Phase 2/3 trial showed a favorable safety profile, robust immune responses and a vaccine efficacy rate of 90.7% in participants without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, measured from 7 days after the second dose, during a period when Delta was the prevalant strain. The Data Monitoring Committee for the study has reviewed the data and has not identified any serious safety concerns related to the vaccine. Pfizer and BioNTech continue to supply the vaccine, including sufficient volume for pediatric doses, under their existing supply agreement with the EC. The companies do not expect the introduction of pediatric doses in the United States and the European Union, if authorized, to impact the existing supply agreements in place with governments and international health organizations around the world. Pfizer and BioNTech have submitted requests for authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine in this age group to other regulators around the world. The companies expect initial pivotal data from their ongoing clinical trial in 2 to under 5 years of age this quarter, and in 6 month to under 2 years of age in the first quarter 2022, with full data readouts to follow. COMIRNATY, which is based on BioNTech’s proprietary mRNA technology, was developed by both BioNTech and Pfizer. BioNTech is the Marketing Authorization Holder in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries, and the holder of emergency use authorizations or equivalents in the United States (jointly with Pfizer) and other countries. Submissions to pursue regulatory approvals in those countries where emergency use authorizations or equivalent were initially granted are ongoing. COMIRNATY® (the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine) has been granted conditional marketing authorization (CMA) by the European Commission to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people from 12 years of age. The vaccine is administered as a 2-dose series, 3 weeks apart. In addition, the CMA has been expanded to include a booster dose (third dose) at least 6 months after the second dose in individuals 18 years of age and older. For immunocompromised individuals, the third dose may be given at least 28 days after the second dose. The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA’s) human medicines committee (CHMP) has completed its rigorous evaluation of COMIRNATY®, concluding by consensus that sufficiently robust data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine are now available. Events of anaphylaxis have been reported. Appropriate medical treatment and supervision should always be readily available in case of an anaphylactic reaction following the administration of the vaccine. Very rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been observed following vaccination with Comirnaty. These cases have primarily occurred within 14 days following vaccination, more often after the second vaccination, and more often in younger men. Available data suggest that the course of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination is not different from myocarditis or pericarditis in general. Anxiety-related reactions, including vasovagal reactions (syncope), hyperventilation or stress-related reactions (e.g. dizziness, palpitations, increases in heart rate, alterations in blood pressure, tingling sensations and sweating) may occur in association with the vaccination process itself. Stress-related reactions are temporary and resolve on their own. Individuals should be advised to bring symptoms to the attention of the vaccination provider for evaluation. It is important that precautions are in place to avoid injury from fainting. The efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine has not been assessed in immunocompromised individuals, including those receiving immunosuppressant therapy. The efficacy of COMIRNATY® may be lower in immunosuppressed individuals. As with any vaccine, vaccination with COMIRNATY® may not protect all vaccine recipients. Individuals may not be fully protected until 7 days after their second dose of vaccine. In clinical studies, adverse reactions in participants 16 years of age and older were injection site pain (> 80%), fatigue (> 60%), headache (> 50%), myalgia and chills (> 30%), arthralgia (> 20%), pyrexia and injection site swelling (> 10%) and were usually mild or moderate in intensity and resolved within a few days after vaccination. A slightly lower frequency of reactogenicity events was associated with greater age. The overall safety profile of COMIRNATY® in adolescents 12 to 15 years of age was similar to that seen in participants 16 years of age and older. The most frequent adverse reactions in clinical trial participants 12 to 15 years of age were injection site pain (> 90%), fatigue and headache (> 70%), myalgia and chills (> 40%), arthralgia and pyrexia (> 20%). There is limited experience with use of COMIRNATY® in pregnant women. Administration of COMIRNATY® in pregnancy should only be considered when the potential benefits outweigh any potential risks for the mother and fetus. It is unknown whether COMIRNATY® is excreted in human milk. Interactions with other medicinal products or concomitant administration of COMIRNATY® with other vaccines has not been studied. For complete information on the safety of COMIRNATY® always make reference to the approved Summary of Product Characteristics and Package Leaflet available in all the languages of the European Union on the EMA website.
