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June 16, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Flu Vaccine May Come in a Sniff, Not Shot”

Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (06/16/03) P. B1; Hamilton, David P.

MedImmune expects the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve soon its nasal spray form of influenza vaccine, which may be a reassuring alternative for people who do not like injections, even though the spray will probably cost much more than the standard injected flu vaccine.  The development may also increase interest in delivering drugs through the mouth, nose, and lung membranes.  The concept of delivering a flu vaccine through the nasal passage originated in 1967, when University of Michigan microbiologist Hunein Maassab cultivated influenza strains that grew in the nose but died in warmer areas such as the lungs, which made it a good choice for a live vaccine.  Vaccines delivered through the nose tend to produce a higher immune response than injections.  Questions have been raised about FluMist's efficacy in older patients and its safety in small children, so MedImmune has sought approval for the vaccine for those aged five to 49 years, and it hopes to expand the approved use after further studies have been completed.