Novartis (NYSE: NVS) announced today results of pivotal Phase III clinical trial data for its innovative cell culture-derived influenza vaccine demonstrating that it is highly capable of producing an immune response (“immunogenic”), one at least as strong as the traditional egg-derived influenza vaccine Aggripal? for each of the three influenza strains studied.
The findings, which were presented at the Second International Conference on Influenza Vaccines for the World (IVW 2006), also showed the cell culture-derived influenza vaccine was well tolerated and no difference in the safety profile was observed compared to traditional egg-based vaccines.
“Novartis is committed to bring cell culture-derived influenza vaccine to market,” said J?rg Reinhardt, CEO of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostic. “These data support this effort and help to further establish Novartis as a leader in bringing this innovative vaccine technology to the next level.”
Cell-culture based influenza vaccines promise many advantages over egg-based production, including greater reliability and reduced production lead time that could be critical in a pandemic. Novartis submitted its cell culture-derived influenza vaccine for European Union approval in June 2006, while US clinical studies began in 2005 and are ongoing.
This cell culture-derived influenza vaccine technology utilizes an alternative approach to vaccine production by which influenza virus is grown in readily available mammalian cell lines (Madin-Darby Canine Kidney, or MDCK cells). Conventional influenza vaccine production utilizes chicken eggs as hosts for virus replication followed by virus purification.
About the study results
A large-scale Phase III study was conducted in Poland during the 2004-2005 influenza season. In this observer-blind, multi-center program, 1,300 adults (age 18-60) and 1,354 elderly (age 60 or older) were randomized to receive the new Novartis cell culture-derived influenza vaccine or an egg-derived, conventional vaccine (Agrippal). Each subject received a single 0.5 ml intramuscular injection. The ability for the vaccine to provoke an immune response (immunogenicity) against the influenza viruses was evaluated according to the European Union’s Committee for Medicinal Products Human Use (CHMP) criteria.
The cell culture vaccine met all three of the CHMP full criteria, and showed no difference between the cell culture-derived influenza vaccine and the conventional egg-based vaccine. The incidences of local and systemic adverse events were similar between the two vaccines in both adult and elderly subjects, indicating that the cell culture-derived vaccine was as well tolerated as the egg-derived vaccine.
About influenza
Influenza is a contagious, potentially serious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that attack the upper respiratory tract. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Influenza viruses easily spread from person to person in respiratory droplets created by coughing and sneezing. Although difficult to assess, annual influenza epidemics are thought to result in between three and five million cases of severe illness and between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths annually around the world.
About Novartis
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics is a new division of Novartis focused on the development of preventive treatments and tools and was formed following the recent acquisition of Chiron Corporation. The division has two businesses: Novartis Vaccines and Chiron. Novartis Vaccines is the world’s fifth-largest vaccines manufacturer and second-largest supplier of flu vaccines in the US. Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics’ products also include meningococcal, pediatric and travel vaccines. Chiron, the blood testing and molecular diagnostics business, is dedicated to preventing the spread of infectious diseases through the development of novel blood-screening tools that protect the world’s blood supply.
Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, treat disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to treat patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in both patented and generic pharmaceuticals. We are strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and low-cost generics, human vaccines and leading self-medication OTC brands. In 2005, the Group’s businesses achieved net sales of USD 32.2 billion and net income of USD 6.1 billion. Approximately USD 4.8 billion was invested in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 99,000 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.