Zydus Lifesciences launches India’s first trivalent Influenza vaccine

Zydus Lifesciences has launched India’s first trivalent (three-component) influenza (Flu) vaccine, ‘VaxiFlu’. Seasonal influenza annually effects three to five million people and results in 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths worldwide.

Currently, major multinational vaccine manufacturers, including GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Sanofi, Seqirus, and AstraZeneca, produce trivalent flu vaccines under brand names such as Fluarix, Flulaval, Fluzone, Fluad, and FluMist. It is common in the U.S. and other Western countries to take vaccine shots against seasonal influenza. A contagious respiratory illness, flu is caused by influenza viruses, which are spread from person to person, mainly through airborne respiratory droplets generated from coughing and sneezing or direct contact.

The seasonal influenza vaccines therapeutics market is estimated to be valued at $10.2 billion in 2025. It is projected to reach $24.1 billion by 2035, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% over the forecast period, says Future Market Insights data. Seasonal influenza viruses evolve rapidly, necessitating annual updates to vaccine compositions, guided by global surveillance systems like WHO’s GISRS.

The new vaccine from Zydus is significant for India, experts say. Given the global pattern of influenza virus circulation since March 2020, with no circulation of the influenza B Yamagata virus in countries such as India, global regulatory bodies, including the WHO and CDC, have recommended that B/Yamagata should no longer be included in vaccine formulations.

Nearly 40 countries, including the U.S., have already adopted the trivalent vaccine. Aligning with global recommendations, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Government of India, has also recommended the use of the Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TIV) for use in the 2025–26 season.

“Influenza B/Yamagata has not been reported from India either, and as such, a trivalent formulation is clearly the way forward. There is no point in vaccinating against a virus which is no longer in circulation for the past five years,” says Dr. Parvaiz Koul, FRCP (Pulmonary Medicine) (Royal College of Physicians, London), FERS (Fellow of European Respiratory Society).

“We believe in aligning with global guidelines and enabling timely access to vaccines, as they are a critical part of preventive healthcare, and VaxiFlu will significantly reduce vaccine-preventable diseases and related complications in high-risk groups,” said Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences Limited.