  Focetria, a  new human vaccine from Novartis (Basel, Switzerland, 

) designed for use  following the declaration of an influenza pandemic, has received European Union  (EU) approval in all 27 member states as well as Iceland and Norway. Focetria  will be manufactured to contain the influenza strain declared at the time of a  pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). It will also include the  proprietary adjuvant MF59, developed by Novartis, which could extend the  vaccine supply by allowing for smaller amounts of viral antigens to be used in  each dose compared to vaccines without this adjuvant.

Novartis has  also received a positive opinion supporting EU approval of its cell  culture–derived seasonal influenza vaccine Optaflu, which is aiming to become  the first influenza vaccine to utilize a mammalian cell line, rather than  chicken eggs, for antigen production. The Committee for Medicinal Products for  Human Use (CHMP), which reviews applications for all 27 countries in the EU as  well as Iceland and Norway, has recommended approval of this new vaccine. The  EU generally follows the recommendations of the CHMP and delivers its final  decision within two to three months.

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Focetria, a new human vaccine from Novartis (Basel, Switzerland, www.novartis.com) designed for use following the declaration of an influenza pandemic, has received European Union (EU) approval in all 27 member states as well as Iceland and Norway.