The flu vaccine came from the hospital to the home! As vaccination rates decline, AstraZeneca (AZN.US) launches household nasal spray influenza vaccine

The Zhitong Finance App learned that pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca PLC (AstraZeneca PLC) released its influenza vaccine nasal spray for home use on Friday. When this move was introduced, it coincided with a period of controversy in the US over the availability of vaccines.

FluMist Home is the same product as the pharmaceutical giant's seasonal influenza vaccine spray, which has been provided by clinicians for the past 20 years. Flumist Home was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last fall and is suitable for people aged 2 and up.

Since this year, driven by the global investment boom in innovative drugs and strong revenue generation from AstraZeneca's anti-cancer “innovative drug fleet” portfolio products, AstraZeneca (AZN.US)'s stock price in the US stock market rose by 22% during the year, outperforming the S&P 500 index by a large margin.

According to AstraZeneca's Q2 earnings report, the anti-cancer drug portfolio achieved overall revenue of US$6.3 billion in the second quarter, far exceeding Wall Street analysts' expectations, mainly due to strong demand for innovative drugs such as Tagrisso and Imfinzi. Tagrisso's product revenue for AstraZeneca in the second quarter reached 1.8 billion US dollars, up 13% year on year, and Imfinzi's product revenue reached 1.5 billion US dollars during the same period, up 30% year over year. Revenue for both products exceeded Wall Street expectations.

“Families can now choose to order this spray vaccine online, determine the date and time of delivery, and the product will be accompanied by instructions on how to administer it.” Andrew Leone, executive marketing director for the company's US Vaccines and Immunotherapy Division, said at a media event in Philadelphia on Thursday.

FluMist Home is only available to those with insurance. Leone says insured customers only need to pay $8.99 for shipping and handling. A company spokesperson said that customers not covered by insurance can pay around $70. To obtain this spray, customers are required to fill out an online medical questionnaire containing their insurance information.

The product came at a time of turbulence in America's broader vaccine policy. The long-time “anti-vaccine” US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) fired all members of an influential vaccine committee, the Immunization Practice Advisory Committee (ACIP). He will be replaced by people of his own choosing, some of whom are skeptical about the vaccine. The US Department of Health and Human Services even cancelled the mRNA vaccine research contract and withdrew official COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for healthy children.

Influenza vaccination rates have been declining steadily since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to preliminary data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 46% of American adults were vaccinated against influenza last influenza season, down from about half of the level five years ago.

According to preliminary data, the 2024-2025 influenza season caused at least 27,000 deaths, including 267 children. Almost all of these children are not fully immunized.

“By getting more people vaccinated, we can provide more protection for everyone,” Tonya Villafana, vice president of medical and scientific affairs for AstraZeneca's Vaccines and Immunotherapy Division, said at the event.

The medicine will be shipped in a refrigerated container. If immediate administration is not possible, the customer should keep the package in the refrigerator. Patients can scan the QR code with their phone to ensure that the temperature is controlled before use. If the product does not stay at the correct temperature, the customer will be alerted and can work with the pharmacy to obtain a replacement.

Leone said the product will be accompanied by instructions on how to report users' vaccination status to state health departments or local doctors.

At the launch event, Brandon Jones, general manager of an AstraZeneca manufacturing facility, said that the Philadelphia production infrastructure that produces FluMist Home is one of 11 sites in the US and serves 20 countries. UK-based AstraZeneca has pledged to invest approximately $50 billion in manufacturing and R&D projects in the US market by 2030.

During a performance call with reporters in July, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said that the company has headquarters and large manufacturing facilities in the US, and the impending Trump administration drug tariffs are not expected to have much impact on the company.