In February 2024 the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that the human medicines committee (CHMP) had recommended 10 medicines for approval at its February meeting. Among them, positive opinions were noted for two vaccines designed for active immunisation against H5N1, a subtype of influenza A. Just over a year ago we noted growing concern at increasing outbreaks of avian influenza in birds and mammals, and cases and deaths have been identified in humans too. The vaccines, submitted for marketing authorisation by Seqirus Netherlands B.V, can be used in different settings.
Celldemic and Incellipan
Celldemic is indicated for active immunisation in adults and infants aged 6 months and above during outbreaks of influenza from animals or when public health authorities anticipate a possible pandemic. The other vaccine is Incellipan, indicated for immunisation during an “officially declared pandemic”. Once a pandemic has been declared and the viral strain identified, the manufacturer can incorporate the strain in the vaccine and apply for authorisation.
The positive opinions on these two vaccines could enable public health authorities to prepare for or respond to a pandemic threat from avian influenza. However, as the virus has spread to an “unprecedented extent globally in recent years”, what more can be done to manage the effects in both animals and humans? In 2023 WHO warned that current outbreaks are causing “devastation” in animal populations and pose “ongoing risks to humans”.
Bird flu has gone global
A recent update from Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación, y Universidades states that the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (HPAI) has been confirmed in Antarctica for the first time by scientists at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Centre of the Higher Council for Scientific Research. The virus was identified in two samples of dead skuas, found by Argentine scientists near the “Primavera” base.
Considering the importance of vaccination strategies in avian influenza pandemic preparedness is a subject of interest for Dr Daniel Peréz at the Congress in Washington this April – get your tickets here to attend this session and many others, and don’t forget to subscribe here.
