FDA Grants 12 Year Exclusivity to Flublok® Influenza Vaccine

MERIDEN, Conn., June 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Protein Sciences Corporation announced that in a rare move, the FDA is granting exclusivity to Flublok for a period of 12 years. Flublok is the first vaccine awarded this very important status, demonstrating Flublok as a unique and game changing influenza vaccine. 

The US FDA determination of regulatory exclusivity means that no product similar to Flublok can be approved by US FDA before January 16, 2025.

"The FDA's designation prevents a generic product maker from capitalizing on the hard work of our team," said Manon Cox, President and CEO of Protein Sciences Corporation. "We are delighted that the FDA recognizes Flublok as a singular innovation in the prevention of an important and often deadly disease caused by the influenza virus." 

"I am honored to be representing Protein Sciences Corporation for nearly twenty years on matters of legal exclusivity," said Tom Kowalski, Esq., Shareholder with Vedder Price, P.C. "This biologics regulatory exclusivity is only the third of such exclusivities granted by the US FDA under the Affordable Care Act, and the only one for an influenza vaccine."

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 approved by FDA in January 2013.  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 or antibiotics in manufacturing.  Flublok is highly purified and does not contain any preservatives (e.g., thimerosal, a mercury derivative), egg proteins, gelatin or latex.  In addition, Flublok contains three times more antigen than traditional flu vaccines (3x45mcg hemagglutinin protein versus 3x15mcg hemagglutinin protein)*.   Flublok is a perfect 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 wishing to pre-order Flublok should contact one of the following distributors:

• FFF Enterprises: 800-843-7477 www.myfluvaccine.com
• Cardinal Health: 866-677-4844 http://www.cardinal.com/us/en/SPD/Ordering
• McKesson: 877-MCK-4FLU mms.mckesson.com
• Henry Schein Medical: 800-772-4346  www.henryschein.com/flu

Learn more at www.proteinsciences.com and www.flublok.com.

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-Barre 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. Clinical effectiveness in adults 50 and older is based on the immune response elicited by Flublok and not on demonstration of decreased influenza disease. 

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 during 2 clinical trials in adults >50 years old.  The B strain antibody response was comparable to traditional trivalent vaccines.

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SOURCE Protein Sciences Corporation

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