Seqirus 'will introduce the first adjuvanted flu vaccine'

with its unique singular focus on influenza

[Interview] Jonathan Anderson, Medical Head of the International Region of Seqirus

Offers a broad portfolio ranging from fertilized egg, cell-based, to adjuvanted vaccines

Will accelerate entry of adjuvanted vaccines that induce strong antibody response… and bring a paradigm shift in Korea

A multinational pharmaceutical company has bravely thrown its hat into the domestic influenza vaccine ring that is led by Korean companies such as GC Pharma and SK Bioscience, etc.

 

The company, named Seqirus, is attempting to enter the Korean market equipped with the solid technology it accumulated through its sole focus on influenza vaccines.

 

Seqirus is a vaccine company specializing in influenza vaccines that became the company it is after the influenza department of the Australia-based pharmaceutical company CSL acquired Novartis’s influenza vaccine business.

 

The company has pursued vaccines, only influenza vaccines for over a century, and is known for its extensive influenza vaccine portfolio that covers a wide range of egg-based, cell culture-based, and adjuvanted vaccines.

 

Its annual sales amount to ₩2 trillion.

 

Seqirus's entrance into the Korean market was prompted by the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic after the sole manufacturer of cell-based vaccines in Korea, SK Bioscience, was unable to manufacture its influenza vaccines due to its manufacture of consigned COVID-19 vaccines.

 

Thus, the Korean government granted emergency use authorization for Seqirus's cell culture-based flu vaccine ‘Flucelvax’ in Korea.

 

Also, using the opportunity as momentum, Seqirus made the decision to start the direct supply of its egg-based Afluria that had been marketed through Boryung Biopharma until then.

 

During an interview with Dailpharm, Jonathan Anderson, Medical Head of the International Region of Seqirus, said, “Although there are many excellent companies in Korea that already focus on the development and manufacture of influenza vaccines, Seqirus has strengths of owning various platforms in the area.

 

As a research-based company, we are developing technology for cell culture-based vaccines, adjuvanted vaccines, and self-amplifying mRNA vaccines.”

[Interview] Jonathan Anderson Medical Head of the International Region of Seqirus

Among its various products, Seqirus has high expectations for its adjuvanted influenza vaccine ‘Fluad’ General flu vaccines can be less effective in immunocompromised elderly, or when the vaccine strain does not coincide with the epidemic, or due to egg-adaptations, etc.

 

In such cases, adjuvanted flu vaccines can improve immune reaction and increase prevention.

 

The ‘MF59’ used in Fluad is an adjuvant that had also been used in 2009 during the swine flu.

 

‘MF59’ is made using squalene that is produced in the liver, which induces an immune response in the injection site and promotes antigen uptake to increase immune response by activating T cells and B cells.

 

In other words, the adjuvanted vaccine can achieve a strong antibody response even with a small amount.

 

Anderson said, “Real-world results showed that the adjuvanted vaccine showed a better effect in elderly patients over the age of 65.” He added, “Many still get infected with influenza during the influenza season and progress to hospitalization or even death.

 

With the social burden still high for influenza, adjuvanted vaccines could rise as a new alternative.” Anderson added that in terms of safety, the adjuvanted vaccine showed a higher rate of local reactions such as injection site pain than general vaccines, but the reactions were mostly mild or moderate and were resolved naturally over time.

 

Based on its efficacy and safety data, Fluad was approved in 2020 in the US as the world’s first adjuvanted influenza vaccine allowed for use in people aged 65 years or older.

 

Seqirus’s Korea, the Korean subsidiary of Seqirus is working to speed up the introduction of Fluad in Korea.

 

As no adjuvanted flu vaccine exists in the Korean market yet, Fluad's approval by the MFDS is expected to change the domestic flu vaccine market.

 

As Fluad has been introduced to Korea in the past, no separate clinical trial will be required for its introduction to Korea.

 

Anderson said, “Seqirus plans to promptly introduce its vaccine portfolio to Korea.

 

We will make the most effort to fully explain our data through close discussions with the healthcare authorities.