China's first quadrivalent subunit influenza vaccine, Huierkangxin – designed to protect against four different flu viruses, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses – has been approved to hit the market.
The vaccine, developed by AB&B Bio-Tech Co Ltd – based in the Gaogang district, or the Taizhou Medical High-tech Zone, of Taizhou city, in East China's Jiangsu province – offers improved protection and safety compared with the previous options.
Company chairman and general manager An Youcai said that after eight years of unwavering efforts, the group had filled a void in the domestic market, providing the public with a safer and more appealing vaccination choice.
The quadrivalent subunit influenza vaccine is a next-generation flu vaccine that contains purified antigens of four strains of the flu virus.
Its high efficacy, purity and safety make it particularly suitable for older people, children and individuals with weakened immune systems.
According to Li Weiwen, the product manager of the market department at Zhonghui Yuantong Biotechnology, the vaccine induces a stronger immune response, offers better protection and reduces the risk of off-target effects compared with the trivalent vaccine.
The China Center for Disease Control and Prevention has included the quadrivalent subunit influenza vaccine in the new version of the China Influenza Vaccine Prevention Technical Guide (2023-24).
Gaogang district, known as China Medical City, has a thriving vaccines industry cluster. [Photo/WeChat ID: weigg6666]
Overall, the Gaogang district's vaccine industry is widely regarded as being the most concentrated in any national park, with a large variety of vaccine products available.