Baxter publishes positive trial data for seasonal flu vaccine

Baxter has published new clinical data that demonstrates the effectiveness of Preflucel, its vaccine treatment for seasonal influenza.

The drug was trialled among more than 7,200 healthy volunteers in the US during the 2008-09 influenza season in order to evaluate its safety, immunogenicity and protective efficacy.

Results from the phase III study showed that the vaccine provided 78.5 percent effectiveness against culture-confirmed influenza infection and strong immune responses to A/H1N1 A/H3N2 and B-specific viral strains.

Preflucel is manufactured using the innovative Vero cell technology and is expected to receive European regulatory approval during 2011.

Dr Hartmut Ehrlich, vice-president of global research and development for Baxter's bioscience business, said: "The positive developments in vaccine cell-culture technologies may help contribute to improved strain selection and more robust vaccine supplies for the growing preventive health efforts around the world."

Earlier this week, the company announced the appointment of two new corporate officers, Paul Martin and Wolf Kupatt.