NOVARTIS: Lower dose of vaccine okay

What do you do when it starts to look like you might not have enough ice cream for everyone? Give each half a scoop instead of a full scoop of yummy goodness!

BASEL (Switzerland) - PHARMACEUTICAL maker Novartis AG said Tuesday a US clinical study suggests that half a dose of its swine flu vaccine may be sufficient to protect people from the virus and could allow many more to be immunized with current supplies.

Clinical trials of around 4,000 individuals have shown that half the current dose of its US-approved vaccine Fluvirin gives immunity to adults, the Swiss drug maker said in a statement.

The company's swine flu vaccine for the US contains no adjuvant, a chemical compound that hasn't been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration but which often is used in vaccines sold in other countries to boost the immune system and stretch the vaccine's active ingredient.

Novartis is discussing the findings with the Food and Drug Administration, which is assessing whether the amount of vaccine per dose can be reduced in the United States.

In Europe, Novartis has been using an adjuvant for flu vaccines since 1997. A separate study of more than 33,000 participants showed that the adjuvant is well tolerated, the company said.

A single shot containing the adjuvant and half the amount of vaccine used in Fluvirin is enough to protect children between 3 and 8 and adults, according to the study. -- AP
[link to flureports.blogspot.com]

Last Edited by phfaty2009 on 11/17/2009 09:10 AM