Penmenvy

Pronunciation: PEN-men-vee
Generic name: Meningococcal Groups A, B, C, W, and Y Vaccine
Dosage form: injection for intramuscular use

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 27, 2025.

What is Penmenvy?

Penmenvy is a vaccine used to prevent invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y in children and young adults aged 10 through 25 years.

Penmenvy combines two well-established meningococcal vaccines made by GSK (Bexsero [MenB vaccine] and Menveo [MenACWY vaccine]) into one vaccine which provides broad coverage against the most common causes of invasive meningococcal disease while reducing  the total number of injections required.

Penmenvy gained FDA approval on February 14, 2025.

How effective is Penmenvy?

Clinical trials report Penmenvy protected against 95% of the meningitis B strains currently circulating in the US and successfully created immunity against all five major types of meningococcal bacteria (A, B, C, W, and Y) that cause meningitis and bloodstream infections.

The vaccine was well tolerated with no major safety concerns and worked just as well as giving 2 separate vaccines (Bexsero and Menveo).

How does Penmenvy work?

Penmenvy works with your immune system to protect against meningococcal disease (a form of meningitis) in two key ways.

For serogroups A, C, W, and Y:

• The vaccine contains pieces of the outer sugar coating from these bacteria
• Your body recognizes these pieces as foreign and makes protective antibodies against them
• These antibodies can then recognize and help destroy the actual bacteria if you're ever exposed

For serogroup B:

• The vaccine contains specific proteins found on the surface of serogroup B bacteria
• Your body makes antibodies that target these specific proteins
• These antibodies help your immune system recognize and eliminate serogroup B bacteria.

Penmenvy side effects

The most common side effects of Penmenvy are:

• pain at the injection site
• fatigue/tiredness
• headache
• muscle aches and pains
• nausea
• redness and swelling at the injection site.

Fainting has also occurred in association with Penmenvy vaccine administration.

Serious side effects and warnings

Immunocompromised persons, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may have a reduced immune response to Penmenvy.

Penmenvy may cause an allergic reaction. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms during or soon after vaccination:

• Itching, hives, flushing or facial swelling
• Breathing problems (shortness of breath, wheezing, cough)
• Confusion, disorientation, dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, or fast heart rate
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or diarrhea.

Complement Deficiency. People with certain complement deficiencies and persons receiving certain medications that prevent terminal complement activation are at increased risk for invasive disease caused by N. meningitidis, including disease caused by serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y, even if they develop antibodies following vaccination with Penmenvy.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) has been reported rarely following administration of other meningococcal vaccines. People who have previously had GBS should talk to their healthcare provider before receiving Penmenvy.

Clinical trials of Penmenvy conducted in 3718 people reported 2 serious vaccine-related side effects:

• 1 adolescent developed a connective tissue disorder 44 days after their second dose of Penmenvy
• 1 adult experienced seizures 9 hours after their first dose of Penmenvy.

Vaccination with Penmenvy may not protect everybody who receives it and may not protect against all meningococcal serogroup B strains.

These are not all the listed side effects of Penmenvy. Report any suspected side effects to your healthcare provider, GlaxoSmithKline at 1-888-825- 5249, or to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at 1-800-822-7967 (or online at www.vaers.hhs.gov).

Related/similar drugs

Before receiving

Do not receive Penmenvy if you have had a severe allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of this vaccine, are allergic to any component of this vaccine, or to any other diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine

Before you are vaccinated with Penmenvy, tell your healthcare provider if:

• You have any allergies
• You have received any other vaccines recently
• Your immune system function is reduced in any way or you take immunosuppressive medications
• You have a complement deficiency
• You have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
• You take blood thinner medications as this may increase the risk of bleeding from the injection site
• You are pregnant or intending to become pregnant
• You are breastfeeding or intending to breastfeed.

If you are prone to fainting during or soon after vaccine administration, ask your healthcare provider if you can lie down while being administered the vaccine.

Pregnancy

It is unknown if Penmenvy affects an unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider before receiving the vaccine if you are pregnant.

Breastfeeding

It is not known if Penmenvy passes into breastmilk.

How is Penmenvy administered?

Penmenvy is administered as an injection into the muscle (intramuscular, IM) by a healthcare provider.

• 1 dose is injected intramuscularly, usually into the deltoid muscle of your upper arm.
• You will need 2 doses in total, spaced 6 months apart.
• It is important that you complete both doses for full protection.

Dosing information

• Initial Penmenvy dose: 1 dose of 0.5 mL
• 6 months later: 1 dose of 0.5 mL.

Penmenvy vaccine ingredient summary

Full Name: Meningococcal Groups A, B, C, W, and Y Vaccine.

Administration: Sterile injectable suspension for intramuscular use.

Packaging: Comes as a Lyophilized MenACWY Component vial + prefilled syringe of MenB Component.

Components

Lyophilized MenACWY Component

• Contains N. meningitidis serogroups A, C, W, and Y oligosaccharides.
• Each oligosaccharide is conjugated to Corynebacterium diphtheriae CRM197 protein.
• Appears as a white to off-white lyophilized cake.

MenB Component

• Contains recombinant N. meningitidis proteins:
  • Neisseria adhesin A (NadA)
  • Neisserial Heparin Binding Antigen (NHBA)
  • Factor H binding protein (fHbp)
  • Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMV).
• Appears as a white opalescent suspension.

Production Methods

• MenACWY polysaccharides produced by bacterial fermentation.
• CRM197 protein carrier produced by bacterial fermentation and purification.
• Recombinant proteins individually produced in E. coli.
• OMV component produced by fermentation of N. meningitidis strain NZ98/254.

Final Reconstituted Dose (0.5-mL) Contains

• 10 mcg MenA oligosaccharide
• 5 mcg each of MenC, MenW, and MenY oligosaccharides
• 25.4 to 65.8 mcg CRM197 protein
• 50 mcg each of recombinant proteins (NadA, NHBA, fHbp)
• 25 mcg of OMV
• 1.5 mg aluminum hydroxide (0.5 mg of Al³⁺)
• 3.125 mg sodium chloride
• 0.776 mg histidine
• 22.5 mg sucrose
• ≤0.7 mg potassium phosphate salts
• <0.01 mcg kanamycin
• ≤0.30 mcg residual formaldehyde.

Additional Information

• Appears as a white opalescent suspension after reconstitution.
• Does not contain preservatives.
• Does not contain natural rubber latex in any components.

Who makes Penmenvy?

Penmanvy is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Brentford, London, UK, with significant operations in Philadelphia, PA and Research Triangle Park, NC. Other notable drugs from GSK include:

• Respiratory products such as Advair/Seretide and Ventolin
• Vaccines such as  Shingrix,  Engerix-B, and Twinrix
• HIV treatments, such as Tivicay and Triumeq
• Other products such as Augmentin, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Zofran, and Lamictal.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer