Biotech company Novartis discovered half of its H1N1 vaccine may be enough to boost the receiver's immunity.
Swiss biotech company Novartis discovered that a half dose of its A(H1N1) 2009 unadjuvanted vaccine may help the person receiving the shot to develop a sufficient immune response.
The company conducted clinical trials of about 4,000 individuals who were given the Novartis Fluvirin vaccine, which found that many of the adults had immunity from the virus. Novartis hopes to use similar methods to increase the amount of Novartis-made H1N1 vaccinations in the United States, as there has been a shortage of vaccinations in many parts of the country.
If the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is currently discussing the H1N1 findings with Novartis, could be convinced to reduce the amount of vaccine needed per dose. It's possible Novartis may be able to quadruple the amount of vaccine available if its adjuvant vaccine is well received -- the adjuvant, which isn't approved by the FDA for use in the U.S., is able to increase the response of the immune system once in the human body.
“This promising data suggests that many more people could potentially be vaccinated with our current vaccines supply,” said Andrin Oswald, Novartis CEO vaccines and diagnostics, said in a statement. “. “The data also confirms the antigen-sparing potential of our proprietary adjuvant, MF59. The vaccines output of our Liverpool, U.K.-based flu manufacturing facility, fully dedicated to the U.S. since the emergence of the pandemic, could be quadrupled if vaccines are adjuvanted.”
Adjuvanted vaccines are also different than regular vaccines since the additive typically makes up more than the active ingredient in the vaccine.
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