New flu vaccines offer extra protection – and more profits

By Ben Hirschler LONDON (Reuters) – Big drugmakers are seeking a boost from new four-in-one influenza vaccines that will be available for the first time this flu season. Offering more protection to patients, the new quadrivalent vaccines provide a route to premium pricing that could improve margins and profits in a highly competitive market. Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca all have products ready to tap the new opportunity, while Novartis is lagging behind its rivals. …