By Lee Kyung-min
Green Cross Corp. said Tuesday that it has obtained approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its new flu vaccine.
It is the first pharmaceutical company in Korea and fourth worldwide to win approval for a vaccine that is effective against four types of influenza, following GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, and MedImmune.
The new vaccine, named GC Flu Quadrivalent, is an upgraded version of the firm’s previous vaccine that worked against three types of influenza. That vaccine currently accounts for more than 60 percent of the supply for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), one of the world's oldest international public health agencies.
With this latest approval, Green Cross aims at expanding its share in the international flu vaccine market.
Green Cross is seeking approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) for influenza vaccine prequalification. If approved, the vaccine will be authorized for use by organizations supervised by the United Nations.
The company is also seeking ministry approval for its tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, named GC1107, the first of its kind in Korea that can protect adolescents and adults from the two life-threatening diseases.