A new flu vaccine that works in just one dosage was approved today by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine called Xofluza, consists of one or two pills, depending on the patients’ weight. This FDA approval comes in just in time for the new flu season.
The drugs works fast and is taken in one dose. If you already have flu symptoms, you need to take it within 48 hours after onset, to get the maximum benefit.
Xofluza was approved for use in people 12 and older who have flu symptoms for no more than 48 hours.
Xofluza is the first drug in a new class called endonuclease inhibitors. They work by interrupting viral replication. Viral replication is an invading virus that takes over the inner mechanism of cells and makes copies of itself.
These copies, in turn, invade other cells and continue spreading the infection. In a short period of time, you end up very sick.
Flu: Origins Of Xofluza, Pricing
Xofluza is brought into the United States by Genentech, a division of Roche. Originally, it was licensed in Japan.
According to Genentech, wholesale pricing will be $150.00 for one or two pills. They will provide a discount coupon, so that if you have insurance coverage that will cover Xofluza, plus the coupon would bring down to the price to about $30.00
The drug acts quickly, but must be taken quickly for maximum effect. The studies used to support its license application found that people who took the drug within 1 day of symptoms, felt better 33 hours sooner than people whose flu was untreated. But for those who started the drug later, their recovery was sped up by only about 13 hours.
Xofluza is expected to become very popular as the dose is a one and done situation. A similar fast acting vaccine on the market, Tamiflu, must be taken twice a day for five days. Tamiflu pricing is the same as the Xofluza.
Xofluza side effects includes diarrhea and bronchitis.
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