As I reflect on the more than 30 years I have worked in the vaccine field, I think one of the most exciting advancements has been the progress made in developing vaccines to protect against meningococcal meningitis, a devastating bacteria-borne disease that can occur suddenly and lead to death within 24 to 48 hours of the first symptoms. And, for those who survive, it can cause serious, life-long disabilities, including brain damage, hearing loss, and limb amputation.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of Anton Weichselbaum’s discovery of the causative bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. In the years since his seminal discovery, the scientific community has made great strides in learning about this disease, how to treat it, and most importantly, how to prevent it.
In the early 1990s, when I was a part of Chiron Corporation (now Novartis), I helped develop the first conjugate vaccine against meningococcus A and C. The ...
