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 Solvay has been prominent in the area of influenza vaccines for more than 55 years. As of January 2008 the Influenza business of Solvay Pharmaceuticals operates from a separate legal entity, Solvay Biologicals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Solvay Pharmaceuticals. Infuenza affects all age groups and can cause moderate to severe illness, absenteeism and complications such as pneumonia, hospitalizations and thousands of deaths worldwide
With our Influvac® we are one of the world’s biggest influenza vaccine producers. Influvac® was introduced on the market in the early fifties of the last century. Since 1983 Influvac® has been a sub-unit vaccine. This means that it contains only those parts of the influenza virus that are needed for effective vaccination. Influvac® contains purified surface antigens, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase prepared from certain selected strains of the Influenza virus and distributed by the WHO, on the basis of their latest recommendations.
Influvac® is used in more than 60 countries worldwide and over 200 million doses of Influvac subunit have been sold to-date. Influvac® has a good reputation by its proven safety and efficiency. Influenza vaccination is the most effective measure for the prevention and control of Influenza.
INFLUVAC® Cell Culture
For the production of our Influvac® we are dependent on millions of chicken eggs each year. Solvay Pharmaceuticals has been early in recognizing the urgency for an alternative production method to become less dependent on the availability of chicken eggs. From our own Research & Development we have developed an alternative production technology making use of mammalian cells. These cells are cultured in our own facilities. Solvay Biologicals will be among the first to go into large-scale production, with a new cell-culture manufacturing facility in the Netherlands expected to begin producing vaccine in the near future. The company's cell-culture plant will provide greater production capacity and allow for a quicker response in the event of a pandemic.
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