Akita-Based UMN Pharma Uses Insects Cells And Shortens Flu Vaccine Production Timeline
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Akita, Japan-based biopharmaceutical company UMN Pharma announced May 26 Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Agency cleared the vaccine for clinical trials, and UMN plans to start the H5N1 flu vaccine trials on 125 men in June. Unlike other vaccines, UMN uses insects cells to culture the virus DNA. The process enables the company to shorten production time from currently half a year to two months. (Click here for more - Japanese language