by: Jonathan Benson
A new vaccine for influenza has hit the
market, and it is the first ever to contain genetically-modified (GM)
proteins derived from insect cells. According to reports, the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the vaccine, known as
Flublok, which contains recombinant DNA technology and an insect virus
known as baculovirus that is purported to help facilitate the more rapid
production of vaccines.
According to Flublok's package insert,
the vaccine is trivalent, which means it contains GM proteins from three
different flu strains. The vaccine's manufacturer, Protein Sciences
Corporation (PSC), explains that Flublok is produced by extracting cells
from the fall armyworm, a type of caterpillar, and genetically altering
them to produce large amounts of hemagglutinin, a flu virus protein
that enables the flu virus itself to enter the body quickly.
So rather than have to produce vaccines
the "traditional" way using egg cultures, vaccine manufacturers will now
have the ability to rapidly produce large batches of flu virus protein
using GMOs, which is sure to increase profits for the vaccine industry.
But it is also sure to lead to all sorts of serious side effects,
including the deadly nerve disease Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GSB), which
is listed on the shot as a potential side effect.
"If Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) has
occurred within six weeks of receipt of a prior influenza vaccine, the
decision to give Flublock should be based on careful consideration of
the potential benefits and risks," explains a section of the vaccine's
literature entitled "Warnings and Precautions." Other potential side
effects include allergic reactions, respiratory infections, headaches,
fatigue, altered immunocompetence, rhinorrhea, and myalgia.
According to clinical data provided by
PSC in Flublok's package insert, two study participants actually died
during trials of the vaccine. But the company still insists Flublok is
safe and effective, and that it is about 45 percent effective against
all strains of influenza in circulation, rather than just one or two
strains.
FDA also approves flu vaccine containing dog kidney cells
Back in November, the FDA also approved a
new flu vaccine known as Flucelvax that is actually made using dog
kidney cells. A product of pharmaceutical giant Novartis, Flucelvax also
does away with the egg cultures, and can similarly be produced much
more rapidly than traditional flu vaccines, which means vaccine
companies can have it ready and waiting should the federal government
declare a pandemic.
Like Flublok, Flucelvax was made possible
because of a $1 billion, taxpayer-funded grant given by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the vaccine industry
back in 2006 to develop new manufacturing methods for vaccines. The
ultimate goal is to be able to quickly manufacture hundreds of millions
of vaccines for rapid distribution.
Meanwhile, there are reportedly two other
GMO flu vaccines currently under development. One of them, which is
being produced by Novavax, will utilize "bits of genetic material grown
in caterpillar cells called 'virus-like particles' that mimic a flu
virus," according to Reuters.
Sources for this article include:
www.reuters.com
