Cell-culture-derived flu vaccine is effective

A flu vaccine derived from cell-culture is as effective as currently available flu vaccines, but would be less susceptible to manufacturing problems. It would also be possible to incorporate that year’s predicted seasonal strains into the vaccine much later than is currently possible, reducing the chances of error. The findings appear in an Article published Online First by The Lancet, written by Dr P Noel Barrett, Baxter BioScience, Biomedical Research Centre, Orth/Donau, Austria, and colleagues. Vaccines derived from cell culture are produced in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities using well-characterised cell lines which are available in unlimited amounts and allow reliable and flexiblevaccine supply. Currently most influenza vaccines are produced using embryonated hens’ eggs. This is a cumbersome process and manufacturing difficulties have led to vaccine shortages in the past. The use of cell culture overcomes these problems by utilizing standardized, closed manufacturing systems which allow for more reliable production and supply of...