SOURCE: Kalorama Information
NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) – In 2009, the adult in flu vaccine market in Europe reached new heights with nearly $1.6 billion in revenues, up a whopping 81.4% from the prior year. According to healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information’s newly published “European Vaccine Markets,” this surge in flu vaccine sales was due to products developed to address the H1N1 flu pandemic.
Influenza vaccines are responsible for almost half of the adult vaccine market in 2010. Although Kalorama does not foresee the same kind of growth witnessed in 2009, the publisher expects strong demand for flu vaccines to continue, tempered by a near term decrease in demand for pandemic vaccines. Flu vaccine revenues should reach $2.6 billion by 2014, supported by an aging population and expanded recommendations for adult influenza vaccinations.
“The swine flu pandemic of 2009 prompted a flurry of activity in the flu vaccines market around the world, with a resulting surge in revenues,” says Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information. “This growth is unlikely to continue as governments overestimated the demand for H1N1 flu vaccines and found themselves with excess stock. Current development initiatives focus on products that protect against pandemic outbreaks, specific strains of influenza and alternative administration routes.”
In May 2008, GlaxoSmithKline received European approval for Prepandrix and Pandemrix; each contains the H5N1 (avian flu) inactivated split, monovalent virus. Prepandrix is designed to be given before or at the onset of a declared influenza pandemic to prevent influenza caused by H5N1. It is formulated with a novel proprietary adjuvant system, which is designed to achieve a high immune response at a low dose of antigen, and to be long-lasting and active against a broad range of H5N1 strains. Pandemrix is approved for use when an H5N1 influenza pandemic has been officially declared by the WHO or European Union.
In December 2008, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) issued a positive opinion for Baxter’s CELVAPAN, the first cell culture-based H5N1 pandemic vaccine, in the European Union. CELVAPAN is made using Baxter’s proprietary Vero cell technology, which speeds up the manufacturing process due to its ability to use the native virus which does not need to be modified in order to grow in chicken eggs. The shorter production time is critical in accelerating vaccine supply in response to an influenza pandemic.
Also of note are advancing efforts to develop a universal flu vaccine which would protect against multiple influenza strains, thereby significantly increasing effectiveness. While many companies over the years have investigated methods to achieve this, U.K.-based Immune Targeting Systems, with funding from a broad range of investors including Novartis’s venture capital group, is expected to begin studies of a product candidate in 2010.
More information on flu and other types of vaccines in the European market can be found in Kalorama Information’s “European Vaccine Markets.” This report presents market estimates and forecasts, product reviews and pipelines, issues and trends, and company profiles for pediatric and adult vaccines. The report can be found at: http://www.kaloramainformation.com/redirect.asp?progid=79864&productid=2833006.
About Kalorama Information
Kalorama Information supplies the latest in independent market research in the life sciences, as well as a full range of custom research services. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/KaloramaInfo) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2177845&trk=hb_side_g).
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