Green Cross said Thursday that it has received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to begin domestic phase 2 clinical trials for GC3114, a high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine for the elderly.

GC3114 has four times more antigen than conventional quadrivalent vaccine making it more effective in preventing influenza among the elderly with weak immunity. The regular flu vaccine shows 70 to 90 percent immune response in healthy adults, while it only shows 17 to 53 percent immune response in the elderly. Such low effect is why experts recommend that the elderly take a flu vaccine suitable for them.

As of now, there are no commercialized high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccines for the elderly, with GC and Sanofi taking the lead in developing the treatment.

The Korean company has been focusing its efforts to dominate the flu vaccine market, with 10 flu-related vaccines developed over a nine-year span.

"The expansion of our product line is meaningful not only regarding social influences such as effective prevention of influenza viruses and pandemic infectious diseases by age group but also in expanding global market share by preoccupying domestic and overseas markets," a company official said.

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