Intercell AG and Merck & Co. have been advised to halt patient enrollment in a test of a vaccine that would prevent infection caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, according to a Bloomberg Businessweek report.
The independent monitoring committee advised the companies to suspend the trial while the committee weighs the benefits to patients against the product's risk, according to the report. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of hospital-acquired infections and accounts for approximately 40 percent of all HAI cases.
According to Intercell CEO Gerd Zettlmeissl, the test's suspension does not mean the vaccine has failed or that the program will be stopped. According to Mr. Zettlmeissl, Intercell administered the vaccine to patients for approximately two weeks before they were scheduled to undergo heart surgery. Approximately 7,700 patients participated in the trial and were monitored for 90 days after surgery.
Mr. Zettlmeissl said the test "showed some benefit," according to the report. Merck and Intercell plan to update consumers on the product once the risk-benefit analysis is finished.
Read the Bloomberg Businessweek report on Intercell and Merck.
Read more on infection control:
-Failure in Sterilization Process Led to Alabama IV Infections
-Cataract Extration: One Area of Infection Risk and Surveillance Focus
-Healthmark Industries Announces New Product to Confirm Proper Cleaning of Surgical Robotic Arms
The independent monitoring committee advised the companies to suspend the trial while the committee weighs the benefits to patients against the product's risk, according to the report. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of hospital-acquired infections and accounts for approximately 40 percent of all HAI cases.
According to Intercell CEO Gerd Zettlmeissl, the test's suspension does not mean the vaccine has failed or that the program will be stopped. According to Mr. Zettlmeissl, Intercell administered the vaccine to patients for approximately two weeks before they were scheduled to undergo heart surgery. Approximately 7,700 patients participated in the trial and were monitored for 90 days after surgery.
Mr. Zettlmeissl said the test "showed some benefit," according to the report. Merck and Intercell plan to update consumers on the product once the risk-benefit analysis is finished.
Read the Bloomberg Businessweek report on Intercell and Merck.
Read more on infection control:
-Failure in Sterilization Process Led to Alabama IV Infections
-Cataract Extration: One Area of Infection Risk and Surveillance Focus
-Healthmark Industries Announces New Product to Confirm Proper Cleaning of Surgical Robotic Arms
