Flu vaccine producing pharma giants plan to supply millions of additional doses produced using futuristic manufacturing processes instead of conventional egg-based procedures, as they ship their first doses of flu-vaccine for the impending season.

GlaxoSmithKline and Seqirus follow Sanofi Pasteur in sending their orders for the approaching U.S. flu spell. Seqirus and Sanofi expect a considerable boost in their cell- cultivated vaccines, assumed to be better than traditional egg-cultured shots.

Seqirus said that Flucelvax Quadrivalent constitutes about 50% of the overall doses it will send to America, owing to manufacturing advancements which have increased production. Sanofi also announced that it will boost supply of an additional 25 million doses of Flublok Quadrivalent and Fluzone High-Dose.

Experts suggest that the 2017 - 18 flu vaccines were not as satisfactorily effective as they were egg-cultured. The new recombinant protein-based Flublok is cultivated in insect cells, and Flucelvax is made in animal cells. The viruses in these vaccines, cultured in cells, are devoid of genetic mutations as observed with conventional egg-based manufacturing.

Overall, Seqirus plans to ship more than 50 million doses, while GSK plans to ship 40 - 45 million and Sanofi plans 70 million. Seqirus is sending the same amount as last year while GSK says this is the highest volume the company has shipped till now.

GSK expects increased sales from its own flu vaccine development. The FDA included infants and toddlers 6 months and above, in January, under Fluarix Quadrivalent's receivers. Prior to that, the vaccine was sanctioned for individuals only 3 years old and above. This was a year after FluLaval, the GSK flu shot was also approved for that age group.

Seqirus’ Flucelvax and Sanofi’s Fluzone High-Dose acted better than all seniors in the previous season, as per an FDA review of data from more than 13 million Medicare recipients.