Stability of lyophilized Meningococcal A conjugate vaccine, (MenAfriVac™) at elevated temperatures to support controlled temperature chain (CTC) claim.

Meningococcal A Conjugate Vaccine (MenAfriVac) is the world's first Monovalent Conjugate Vaccine against Neisseria Meningitidis serogroup A which has obtained Controlled Temperature Chain (CTC) label claim of "stable upto 40°C for 4 days prior to reconstitution" developed by Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. Pune, India and the vaccine was granted permission from World health Organization. This paper elucidates and talks about the layout of various studies performed to characterize the product to declare as CTC at the time when the knowledge and mechanism to describe CTC was not fully known which in term helped to design the CTC guidelines. Product stability was assessed using clinical, consistency and regular lots released by NRA. The critical stability indicating parameters like free polysaccharide, molecular size distribution along with Potency and safety tests were carried out to support the product stability making sure it also qualifies for Vaccine Vial Monitor label claim of VVM30. An additional in use stability (reconstitution) was also performed. All studies indicated that the product remains stable at real time as well as elevated temperatures and well within the specifications approved by NRA and formed the strong basis for CTC claim which is now recommended by WHO.