Novartis demonstrates new flu vaccine is “effective”

Novartis has released the results of a phase III clinical trial for a new influenza vaccine, describing the drug as “at least as strong” as its currently marketed influenza vaccine, Aggripal.

The new vaccine employs an “innovative” cell culture-based technology that is designed to replace the traditional egg-based production method, which has been used for several decades.

Novartis says the new vaccine showed no difference in safety profile to other egg-based vaccines, while the drug’s ability to provoke an immune response in the body was measured according to criteria set out by the EU’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use.

The vaccine is currently undergoing European Union approval and clinical trials in the US are continuing.

Jorg Reinhardt, chief executive officer of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, commented: “Novartis is committed to bring cell culture-derived influenza vaccine to market.”

“These data support this effort and help to further establish Novartis as a leader in bringing this innovative vaccine technology to the next level,” he added.

Sanofi Pasteur also has a new cell culture-based vaccine for seasonal influenza in development, for which patients are being recruited in a phase I clinical trial.

Pfizer has also signalled its intention to enter the cell culture-derived vaccines market through the purchase of Powdermed, an Oxford-based vaccines company.