News in brief - March 21, 2005

Chiron flu vaccine license suspension lifted - "Mini-strokes" could precede major strokes

Chiron flu vaccine license suspension lifted

Chiron Corp. announced early this month that it would start work toward producing flu vaccine for next season.

This action comes in response to the reinstatement -- also in March -- of Chiron's influenza vaccine manufacturing license by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the United Kingdom's Food and Drug Administration equivalent.

This past season's shortage resulted when the company's license was suspended in October 2004 because of contamination problems. Flu vaccine experts since have been nervously monitoring developments.

Meanwhile, the UK agency's current policy is contingent on the company continuing to make improvements to their Liverpool, England factory.

"We are extremely proud of this result," said Chiron Chief Executive Howard Pien. "In this new beginning, we remain focused on continuing to remediate and improve so Chiron can successfully deliver on the results required to supply influenza vaccine for the 2005-2006 season."

The FDA issued a statement declaring the action a "important milestone" but added that work remains before it will issue approval for next season. Both agencies will continue to monitor the situation.

"Mini-strokes" could precede major strokes

Nearly a quarter of ischemic stroke victims experience a transient ischemic attack in the week before their stroke, according to a study published in the March 8 issue of Neurology.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 2,000 stroke patients participating in two population-based studies and two randomized trials. They found that 23% had a TIA in the week before with 17% occurring on the day of the stroke. Nine percent had one on the previous day and 43% experienced one in the preceding week.

Authors of the paper say this finding indicates the need to initiate treatment rapidly after a TIA, which usually lasts only five minutes and does not cause lasting harm, to prevent more serious damage further down the road.

"This study indicates that the timing of the TIA is critical, and the most effective treatments should be initiated within hours of a TIA in order to prevent a major attack," said Dr. Peter M. Rothwell, a researcher in the Dept. of Clinical Neurology at Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford, England.