Novartis Meningitis drug may protect older infants

ZURICH, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Novartis (NOVN.VX) said new research showed that its investigational Meningitis B vaccine may be the first to protect infants of six months and older against multiple strains of the potentially deadly bacteria.

According to the new research data presented at a conference in Rotterdam, more than 95 percent of the infants enrolled in the study generated a protective immune response as early as one month after being treated with a second dose of the vaccine.

Meningococcal B strains are a leading cause of bacterial meningitis throughout the world, particularly among infants, and account for 72 percent of meningitis cases in Europe.

(Reporting by Andrew Thompson in Zurich)