FDA approves Influenza A(H5N1) vaccine

Seqirus, a global leader in influenza prevention and pandemic response, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved their AUDENZ™ (Influenza A (H5N1) Monovalent Vaccine, Adjuvanted) to help protect individuals six months of age and older against influenza A (H5N1). AUDENZ is the first-ever vaccine designed to protect against influenza A (H5N1) in the event of a pandemic.

AUDENZ is designed to be rapidly deployed to help protect the U.S. population and can be stockpiled for first responders in the event of pandemic.

An influenza A (H5N1) pandemic would be a global epidemic caused by the emergence of a new influenza virus to which there is little or no pre-existing immunity in the human population. Pandemics are impossible to predict and can cause catastrophic morbidity and mortality globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Influenza Strategy for 2019-2030 states that a severe pandemic can result in widespread social and economic effects, including a loss of national economic productivity and severe economic burdens on affected citizens and communities.

Like the spread of the novel Corona virus, pandemic influenza viruses can also be deadly and spread rapidly, making production of safe, effective vaccines essential in saving lives.