MenACWY-CRM (Menveo) is a quadrivalent (for serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135) meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) under development by Novartis Vaccines. It is designed to be a single formulation to protect all age groups (infant through adult) and high-risk groups against four of the five disease-causing serogroups of the bacterium: A, C, Y and W-135.
Currently, there are no vaccines approved in the US to protect children younger than 2 years of age against serogroups A, C, Y and W-135, although they have the highest rate of meningococcal disease1. 
MenACWY-CRM is currently in Phase III trials around the world. To date, preclinical and clinical trial results in a broad range of age groups demonstrate:

• Robust immunogenicity (immune response) in a broad range of age groups (infants, children, adolescent, adults)
  
• Better immune response than older polysaccharide vaccines
  
• Persistence of immunity
  
• One formulation that provides protection for all at-risk age groups
  
• Good tolerability
  
• Flexible vaccination schedules

Technology

• Conjugate vaccines link a carrier protein to the polysaccharide capsule (sugar coating) of the disease-causing bacteria to improve immunogenicity and persistence of protection versus older polysaccharide vaccines
  
• Formulation based on MenjugateÒ, an established conjugate MenC vaccine from Novartis Vaccines, licensed and widely used outside of the United States
  
• Menjugate has a large safety database. More than 6,000 people have participated in past or ongoing Menjugate studies, and more than 25 million doses have been administered

About meningococcal disease and vaccination

A rare, but vaccine-preventable disease, meningoccocal disease is an acute, contagious and potentially life-threatening disease. There are currently two quadrivalent vaccines available in the United States that protect against serotypes A, C, Y and W-135. One is a conjugate vaccine and one is a polysaccharide vaccine.

References

1.  U.S. Centers for Disease Control.  Fact Sheet: Meningococcal Disease and Meningococcal Vaccines (April 25, 2006).  Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mening/vac-mening-fs.htm