GSK announces new data for Prepandrix

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has presented new results for Preprandrix, its pre-pandemic H5N1 influenza vaccine.

The company said the product confers persistent immune response against a number of strains of the virus and offers administration flexibility for pandemic planning.

Results from two clinical studies were presented at the third European Influenza Conference, showing that the broad cross-clade immunity provided by Preprandrix is maintained when the second dose is administered several months later.

GSK said this maintenance occurs even if the second dose is formulated from a different strain of H5N1 than the first.

The firm argued that greater administration flexibility of vaccines could potentially reduce the impact on healthcare resources in the early stages of a pandemic.

Professor Albert Osterhaus, head department of virology at the Institute of Virology Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, said: “When indeed H5N1 would be at the basis of the next influenza pandemic, it is critical that a pre-pandemic H5N1 influenza vaccine provides broad and persistent immunity, also against drifted H5N1 strains.”

He added that Preprandrix has repeatedly shown this ability which has now been confirmed in the clinical trial.

In May 2008, GSK announced the European Commission had granted marketing authorisation for Preprandrix in all EU member states.