Clinical trials of an intranasal flu vaccine that can provide long-term immunity have begun in Russia. The development is being carried out by specialists from the Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation in St. Petersburg, said Andrey Vasin, Director of the National Influenza Center of the WHO, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The vaccine has already passed preclinical studies, and clinical trials are in the active phase. The drug is based on the influenza A virus and is designed to be administered once every few years, which will reduce the frequency of vaccination compared to traditional methods. Now, experts are selecting a vaccine for the current circulating strain of influenza.
According to the scientist, the main difficulty lies in the absence in Russia of a manufacturer capable of establishing industrial production of the vaccine.
Any drug that reaches the third phase of clinical trials must be produced somewhere. There is currently no industrial partner with the necessary capacity.
A long-term vaccine can significantly increase the effectiveness of influenza prevention in the country, reduce the burden on the healthcare system, and reduce the number of annual epidemics. In addition, the creation of domestic production will ensure Russia's independence from foreign supplies of such drugs.