GSK’s Pre-Pandemic Vaccine Wins EU Marketing Approval

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that the European Commission has granted a marketing authorization for its H5N1 adjuvanted pre-pandemic vaccine, Prepandrix, in all 27 EU member states.

GSK’s pre-pandemic H5N1 vaccine is formulated with a novel proprietary adjuvant system, which is designed to achieve a high immune response at a low dose of antigen that is long-lasting and active against a broad range of H5N1 strains.

GSK is said to be the first company to obtain a European license for a pre-pandemic vaccine, thereby offering European governments the potential for protecting their population in advance or at the onset of an officially declared influenza pandemic.

A pre-pandemic vaccine is produced in advance of a pandemic. Such a vaccine is based on the currently circulating avian H5N1 influenza virus likely to cause a pandemic and has the ability to raise immune protection against potential drift H5N1 strains.