Optaflu is a cell culture

Cell culture

Cell culture is the complex process by which cells are grown under controlled conditions. In practice, the term "cell culture" has come to refer to the culturing of cells derived from singlecellular eukaryotes, especially animal cells. However, there are also cultures of plants, fungi and microbes,...

 derived influenza vaccine manufactured by Novartis

Novartis

Novartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...

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History

On April 27, 2007 Novartis received a positive opinion supporting European Union

European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

 approval of Optaflu. It is the first influenza vaccine made in a mammalian cell line, rather than chicken eggs. The vaccine will be manufactured in Holly Springs, North Carolina

Holly Springs, North Carolina

Holly Springs is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. As of 2009, the town population was estimated at 21,749, and it had gained the title of"The fastest growing town in North Carolina".-Geography:...

. The United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

government is providing $500 million in construction costs and guaranteed vaccine purchases.