– FDA approves new seasonal influenza vaccine made using novel technology (FDA, Jan 16, 2013):
FDA NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Jan. 16, 2013
Media Inquiries: Rita Chappelle, 301-796-4672, [email protected]
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA, [email protected]FDA approves new seasonal influenza vaccine made using novel technology
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that it has approved Flublok, the first trivalent influenza vaccine made using an insect virus (baculovirus) expression system and recombinant DNA technology. Flublok is approved for the prevention of seasonal influenza in people 18 through 49 years of age.
Unlike current flu vaccines, Flublok does not use the influenza virus or eggs in its production. Flublok’s novel manufacturing technology allows for production of large quantities of the influenza virus protein, hemagglutinin (HA) – the active ingredient in all inactivated influenza vaccines that is essential for entry of the virus into cells in the body. The majority of antibodies that prevent influenza virus infection are directed against HA. While the technology is new to flu vaccine production, it is used to make vaccines that have been approved by the FDA to prevent other infectious diseases.