Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends candidate vaccine viruses for vaccine development and production in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This is based on surveillance data from the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), surveillance information collected by national influeza centers, virus characterization data sourced by collaborating centers and essential regulatory labs, and antigenic cartography analysis generated by the University of Cambridge.

In 2014, the WHO consulted advisers and experts from different organizations and discussed data from characterization of seasonal Influenza viruses, serological studies, epidemiological and clinical information, and vaccine effectiveness estimates. Based on this, it recommended the following viruses for inclusion in trivalent influenza vaccines for use in the Northern Hemisphere for 2014-2015:

• A/Texas/50/2012 (H3N2)-like virus
• A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus

In addition, the WHO recommended the use of B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus along with the above three viral strains in quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses.

In 2013, the WHO recommended similar strains to manufacture trivalent influenza vaccines for the Southern Hemisphere for winter 2014.

Now Trending: Universal Influenza Vaccines

Currently, influenza vaccines are reformulated annually to confer protection against influenza viral strains that are anticipated to prevail in the upcoming flu season. However, these vaccines exhibit limited efficacy against unexpected pandemic viruses and viruses with antigenic mismatch.

In order to improve vaccine efficiency, development has begun for a Universal Influenza vaccine based on viral protein domains that are conserved across virus subtypes that can increase the window for protection against the virus. This vaccine can reduce the severity of the disease and increase the viral clearance from the body.In addition, it is expected to reduce the mortality rate of influenza infection till the development of a specific vaccine directed against the causative viral strain.

In May 2014, the FDA reported that a PanAd3 vaccine exhibited the potential to be used as a universal influenza vaccine. The vaccine was developed at Okairòs and tested on animal models by the FDA. When tested in mice models, the vaccine activated T cells and triggered antibody production.

The development of universal influenza vaccines is a huge reason why the Global H1N1 Vaccines Market is expected to post a CAGR of 5.40 percent during the period 2013-2018.