Article: FluMist

FluMist is the product name of a nasal spray vaccine against the flu virus. It is the new type of flu vaccine that is given as a nasal spray.

Flumist was originally developed by Hunein "John" Maassab, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, Michigan and later by Aviron under the sponsorship of NIH in the mid-1990s. MedImmune, Inc. purchased Aviron in 2002, and Flumist was approved by the FDA in June of 2003 (Appleby, 2004) and was first made available in September 2003. Results of clinical trials announced in 2005 suggest that FluMist is more effective than the injectable vaccines in preventing influenza in children. (R&D Focus Drug News, 2006)

FluMist is sometimes referred to as LAIV for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine because it contains attenuated (weakened) live viruses. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the new vaccine only for healthy people ages 5 to 49, unlike the injectable vaccines, which are approved for people over 6 months of age, because of concerns over side effects. Healthy people are the group least likely to suffer serious complications from catching the flu, and have traditionally been discouraged from taking flu shots, particularly early in the season. FluMist is now, however, the recommended type of flu vaccine for healthy people ages 5 to 49.

Flumist is more expensive than the injectable vaccine, and sold only 500,000 of the 4 million doses it produced its first year on the market, despite a comparative shortage of flu vaccine in fall 2004. (Rosenwald, 2005) The company reports distributing 1.6 million doses in 2005, (Drug Week, 2006) Despite selling almost three times as many doses in 2005, the company reported $21 million in FluMist sales, compared to $48 million the previous year. (Rosenwald, 2006)

MedImmune has developed a new version of the vaccine, called CAIV-T, which does not require storage in a freezer and is currently undergoing clinical trials. MedImmune hopes the new vaccine will be approved for children and the elderly in time for distribution in fall of 2007. (R&D Focus, 2006)