AstraZeneca unit submits nasal spray for authorisation

AstraZeneca has made an application to authorise a nasal spray product.

It has suggested in its marketing authorisation application (MAA) that its live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is to work against seasonal influenza.

Senior vice-president and clinical affairs and chief medical officer Alex Zukiwski expressed a hope that the nasal spray products would fight worldwide influenza and raise levels of vaccination against the ailment.

LAIV is marketed as FluMist in the United States, having been approved in 2003 by the Food and Drug Administration.

In every dose there are three weakened strains of live attenuated influenza, which are chosen every year by the World Health Organisation after considering what types of influenza are expected to be present.

The MAA for the product has been submitted by AstraZeneca’s global biologics section, MedImmune.

It cites information using studies of more than 141,000 people, from babies aged seven weeks to people of 97.

According to its website, AstraZeneca has a presence in more than 100 countries globally and has a workforce of more than 67,000 staff.

Most of these (55 per cent) are based in Europe, but 30 per cent are in America and 15 per cent are in Australasia, Africa and Asia.