As the global vaccine market faces declining sales, Merck has achieved a promising start with its new adult pneumococcal vaccine, Capvaxive, marking a significant milestone in adult immunization. 

During the third quarter, Capvaxive generated $244 million in sales, up from $129 million in the previous quarter. Since its launch and subsequent CDC recommendation in October last year for adults aged 50 and older, the vaccine has recorded $530 million in cumulative sales over its first four quarters on the market. 

“Capvaxive is off to a very strong start,” said Caroline Litchfield, Merck’s Chief Financial Officer, during the company’s quarterly conference call. “We’re encouraged by the early uptake and the value it’s bringing to adult vaccination programs.” 

Capvaxive stands out as the world’s first pneumococcal vaccine specifically designed for adults, offering protection against 21 serotypes. According to CDC epidemiologic data, these serotypes account for approximately 84 per cent of pneumococcal disease cases in individuals aged 50 and above—compared with 52 per cent for the 20 serotypes covered by Pfizer’s Prevnar 20. 

The launch of Capvaxive comes at a challenging time for the vaccines industry. Major players such as Sanofi and GSK have reported declines in vaccine revenues. Sanofi’s overall vaccine sales fell 8 per cent in the third quarter due to lower vaccination rates and pricing pressure, while GSK reported a modest 2 per cent increase globally despite a 15 per cent drop in the U.S., largely driven by weaker demand for its shingles vaccine, Shingrix. 

Merck’s other vaccine products also saw declines this quarter. Sales of its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, fell 24 per cent, primarily due to reduced demand in China. The company’s combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines—ProQuad, MMR II, and Varivax—dropped 3 per cent, while its other pneumococcal vaccine, Vaxneuvance, declined 6 per cent to $226 million. 

Despite these headwinds, the success of Capvaxive signals a strong opportunity for Merck in the adult immunization space. The company continues to emphasize Capvaxive’s broad coverage and its potential to address unmet needs in pneumococcal disease prevention. While no head-to-head efficacy studies have been conducted between Capvaxive and Prevnar 20, Merck underscores the differentiated value of its new vaccine based on its broader serotype coverage and adult-focused design. 

Merck remains committed to advancing vaccine innovation and expanding access to life-saving immunizations worldwide.