Protein Sciences Corporation Release: Flublok Influenza Vaccine Now Available In Mexico
MERIDEN, Conn., Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mexico welcomed the availability of Flublok last Thursday with the official launch of Flublok influenza vaccine in Mexico City. Mexican regulatory authority COFEPRIS released the first batch of Flublok for the Mexican market on October 14th. Thursday, officials from Protein Sciences Corporation, manufacturer of Flublok, and Laboratorios Liomont, S.A. de C.V. (Liomont), a leading Mexican pharmaceutical company and licensee of Flublok for the Mexican market, gathered in Mexico City to address the sales team and kick off distribution of the revolutionary influenza vaccine.
Liomont is partnered with Pfizer to help promote Flublok in Mexico. Several large companies in Mexico have already decided to vaccinate their employees with Flublok instead of the traditional egg-based influenza vaccine.
Unlike other flu vaccines, Flublok is made without using infectious influenza virus, eggs, antibiotics or harsh chemicals in its manufacturing process; the result is a highly pure, effective flu vaccine that can be made much faster than traditional flu vaccines. In addition, in a recent clinical study of 9,000 adults 50 years and older, people who received Flublok were over 40% less likely to get cell culture confirmed influenza than people who received a traditional flu vaccine. Earlier in October members of the Mexican press toured Protein Sciences' Flublok manufacturing facility in Pearl River, NY to learn about the modern manufacturing process and see firsthand how Flublok is made. Video coverage of the tour is available at https://youtu.be/CymUoE2palI.
Flublok is approved in Mexico for adults 18 years and older.
"Mexico is the first country outside the United States to launch Flublok and make this modern vaccine available to its people," remarked Manon Cox, President and CEO of Protein Sciences. She added, "We are very pleased with Liomont's choice of Pfizer as a marketing partner, as Pfizer's pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar) is a nice complement to Flublok, and we anticipate the fall vaccination campaign will be successful."
In addition to Mexico, Flublok is available at hundreds of pharmacies across the United States. To find the closest location to you, visit Protein Sciences' Flublok Finder. If you still have difficulty finding a location close to you, please contact Protein Sciences directly by calling the phone number listed below.
For more information about Flublok, please visit www.flublok.com.
About Protein Sciences
Protein Sciences specializes in vaccine development and protein production. Our mission is our inspiration: to save lives and improve health through the creation of innovative vaccines and biopharmaceuticals.
Flublok, the world's first recombinant protein-based vaccine for the prevention of seasonal influenza disease, was initially approved by the U.S. FDA in January 2013. FDA expanded its approval in October 2014 to include everyone over 18 years, approved a nine month shelf life in June 2016, and approved a quadrivalent formulation in October 2016. Flublok is the only flu vaccine made in a 100% egg-free system using modern cell culture technology, making it unnecessary to use an infectious influenza virus, antibiotics or harsh chemicals in manufacturing. Flublok is highly purified and does not contain any preservatives (e.g., thimerosal, which contains mercury), egg proteins, gelatin or latex. In addition, Flublok contains three times more antigen than traditional flu vaccines (3x45mcg hemagglutinin protein versus 3x15mcg hemagglutinin protein).* In a 2014/15 post-marketing study of 9,000 adults 50 years and older, people who received Flublok were over 40% less likely to get cell culture confirmed influenza than people who received a traditional flu vaccine. Flublok is an accurate copy of the virus coat and is not subject to the egg-adapted mutations associated with low vaccine effectiveness (see Skowronski et al. (2014) PLOS ONE 9(3), e92153).
Healthcare professionals in the U.S. wishing to order Flublok should contact one of the following distributors:
- Protein Sciences Corporation: 203-686-0800 www.flublok.com
- FFF Enterprises: 800-843-7477 www.myfluvaccine.com
- Cardinal Health: 866-677-4844 http://www.cardinal.com/flu
- McKesson: 877-MCK-4FLU mms.mckesson.com
- Moore Medical: 800-234-1464 www.mooremedical.com/flu
- Henry Schein: 1-800-772-4346 www.henryschein.com
Learn more at www.proteinsciences.com and www.flublok.com.
About Liomont
Liomont is a 100% Mexican pharmaceutical company established in 1938, ranked number 8 in the national pharmaceutical market in units and 16 in value in 2014, with high quality prescription and OTC products. It has one of the most dynamic growth rates in the market. Liomont has a capacity of more than 120 million units per year in a high tech facility considered to be one of the most modern in Latin America. It has approximately 1500 employees of which more than half are medical sales reps with the aim of creating a solid and collaborative team. In addition to marketing activities, Liomont has the social mission to be a source of employment, training and development of its people to ensure a better quality of life. The Company has received the Socially Responsible Company Award for 10 continuous years due to its outstanding commitment to society. Other public and private institutions have also recognized several initiatives in business and ecology among others.
Flublok Safety Information
Flublok is approved for people 18 and older to prevent influenza disease. The most common side effect from Flublok is pain at the site of injection. Headache, fatigue or muscle ache may occur. Tell the doctor if you have ever experienced Guillain-Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness) or have had a severe allergic reaction to any component of Flublok vaccine. Vaccination with Flublok may not protect all individuals. Please see the complete Package Insert available at www.flublok.com or call 203-686-0800 for more information.
*Flublok demonstrated a higher antibody response to the A strains in two field trials in adults 50 years old. The B strain antibody responses were comparable to traditional trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines.
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SOURCE Protein Sciences Corporation
