Flu Infection Blocked by Cell-Based Vaccine

Researchers are reporting that a cell culture-based flu vaccine was significantly effective against antigenically matched influenza strains. This finding may lead to a more reliable flu vaccine supply in the US if regulatory approval is given.

The researchers conducted a large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 7,250 adults ages 18 through 49 in 36 U.S. centers. All participants were randomly assigned to receive either the vaccine or a placebo.

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Overall, the researchers tested 104 specimens from 103 participants. It was found that 73 of them were matched to one of the three vaccine strains. Around 63 matched to influenza A/H1N1 strain, six to influenza A/H3N2 and four to influenza B.

The researchers also reported that all the immunogenicity meets U.S. standards for all three strains. Lead author P. Noel Barrett, PhD, of Baxter BioScience in Orth/Donau, Austria, and colleagues also reported that the vaccine was well-tolerated.

The details appear online in The Lancet.

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Source-Medindia

Swine Flu | Swine Influenza | Hog Flu | Pig Flu
Swine flu, a type of influenza caused by a new strain of the H1N1 Type A influenza virus has originated from the pigs. Winter always brings along the chills and the flu, make sure you're safe this season.