A new drug for seasonal flu from the house of giant drug-manufacturer Novartis, Agriflu has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The drug is a preventative medicine for seasonal influenza and should not be confused as a protective medicine against H1N1 or Swine Flu.

As confirmed by the FDA, the medicine was approved using the agency's accelerated approval process, and the manufacturing firm has demonstrated that Agriflu is capable of inducing the levels of antibodies in the blood, which in turn help fight against seasonal flu better, but because the drug has been approved under the special accelerated program, more studies need to be conducted.

Intended for ages 18 and above, the medicine is administered as a single shot in the upper arm and is, according to the FDA, "available in single-dose, pre-filled syringes".

Agriflu is made in Siena, Italy, with eggs and is already available throughout Europe where it is marketed as Aggripal, as has been confirmed by Novartis spokesman Eric Althoff, who believes that the approval will add to "future seasonal vaccine supplies".