Abstract
In This Issue.
Influenza is a significant health issue. Influenza epidemics occur yearly, and recently, health groups such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have raised the possibility of an influenza pandemic. The U.S. Office of Health and Human Services estimates that, without intervention, a pandemic could cause the deaths of almost 2 million people in the United States and require the hospitalization of up to 10 million. Most health officials agree that the best course of action in preventing an epidemic or pandemic is vaccination. Current vaccines are generally considered safe and efficacious, but they are not as efficacious in some high-risk populations, and production capacity is limited. In this report, we examine the worldwide health burden that influenza represents and discuss H5N1, a current influenza strain that could cause the next pandemic. We compare the advantages and disadvantages of available vaccines and describe technologies that companies are investigating in an effort to improve on existing vaccines. Finally, we discuss the outlook for the influenza vaccine market.
Table of Contents
The Flu Threat
About the Influenza Virus
- Virus Characteristics
- Influenza Epidemics and Pandemics
- H5N1
Current Prevention and Treatment of Influenza
- Inactivated Influenza Vaccines
- Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines
Novel Approaches to Influenza Vaccine Development
- Cell Culture Manufacturing
- Adjuvanted Vaccines
- New Delivery Systems
- Universal Vaccine
Commercial Opportunities for Influenza Vaccines
- An Expanding Market
- Finding Success: Potential of the Novel Approaches
