US biopharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) announced on Thursday the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of PREVNAR 20 (20-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine), which offers protection against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by 20 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes, including seven that are shown to be associated with antibiotic resistance, heightened disease severity, invasive potential and prevalence in paediatric pneumococcal cases.

The vaccine is approved for infants and children between six weeks and 17 years old.

The FDA also approved PREVNAR 20 for the prevention of otitis media in infants aged six weeks to five years caused by the original seven serotypes contained in PREVNAR.

PREVNAR 20 builds on Pfizer's approved PREVNAR 13 vaccine, which was launched 20 years ago. The seven additional serotypes in the PREVNAR 20 vaccine accounted for an estimated 37% of IPD cases in children under five years old.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is expected to take action on the vaccine as soon as possible following the FDA's approval.