FDA approves MedImmune's new refrigerated formulation of FluMist influenza virus vaccine

MedImmune has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's new refrigerated formulation of FluMist (Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal) for use in helping to prevent influenza in healthy children and adults from 5 years to 49 years of age.

"Large and well-controlled clinical trials have shown FluMist to be an effective and well-tolerated option to help prevent influenza disease in healthy children and adults," stated Frank M. Malinoski, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president, medical and scientific affairs. "We are confident that the approval of our refrigerated formulation for FluMist will encourage more healthcare providers to offer FluMist to their customers and patients. The new formulation can be conveniently stored in a standard refrigerator rather than frozen, as previously required. We recognize that the frozen storage presented difficulties for some physician practices as well as for providers who administer vaccine in places like schools, pharmacies and grocery stores, and we are confident that this improvement will enhance access to this important vaccine."

FluMist has been marketed in a frozen formulation since its original FDA approval in 2003, and millions of doses have been distributed and administered. The newly approved formulation of FluMist, known in clinical studies as CAIV-T (cold adapted influenza vaccine-trivalent), will be available for the 2007-2008 influenza season. Both formulations are free of preservatives, including thimerosal.

To date, 42 clinical trials involving approximately 60,000 individuals have been conducted, including children as young as 6 weeks of age and adults up to 98 years of age. In a recently completed pivotal Phase 3 study involving approximately 8,500 children between 6 months and 59 months of age, FluMist demonstrated a statistically significant 55 percent relative reduction in the incidence of influenza illness caused by any influenza strain including both matched and mismatched strains when compared to the injectable influenza vaccine (TIV). This study was conducted during the 2004-2005 influenza season in the U.S., Europe and Asia and it was submitted in July 2006 to the FDA as the basis of MedImmune's request to expand the age indication for FluMist to include children as young as one year of age who do not have a history of wheezing or asthma.

Pending the FDA's approval of an expanded age indication, MedImmune plans to increase production of its new formulation of FluMist for the 2007-2008 season. MedImmune anticipates shipping its first doses in 2007 in time for physicians to start vaccinating patients as early as August.