Swine Influenza Vaccine
CSL Biotherapies, a subsidiary of CSL Limited, Australia’s leading biopharmaceutical company, welcomes the Rudd Government’s recent announcement of its intention to place an order to supply 10 million Australians with a vaccine against Novel Influenza A (H1N1) or commonly known as swine flu.
CSL is well placed to meet the needs of the Australian population in responding to the current epidemic of Swine Flu. CSL will prepare swine flu vaccination for use in clinical trials to determine the formulation and dosage of the vaccine. The first batches are expected to be manufactured by late July/ early August. The Australian government will determine how the vaccine will be deployed.
CSL, Australia’s leading biopharmaceutical company, also announced today that its US subsidiary, CSL Biotherapies, Inc., has signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide Novel A (H1N1) influenza vaccine antigen in bulk form. The vaccine will be manufactured at CSL’s facility in Parkville, Victoria, and will support the HHS pre pandemic influenza preparation efforts. The new vaccine will be tested in clinical trials funded by HHS. The initial order under the contract will be for an amount of USD180 million.
The contract also provides HHS with the opportunity to use CSL’s antigen filling and finishing capability at the company’s manufacturing plants in Kankakee, Illinois and in Marburg, Germany. CSL will maintain its commitment to supply seasonal influenza vaccines to Australia, the US and other markets. Consistent with the media release issued by the Australian Minister for Health and Ageing on 28 May 20091, CSL will also supply its Swine influenza vaccine to Australia.
CSL partnership with HHS to address the serious threat to public health that the A (H1N1) virus represents, is confirmation that we are a leader in the global influenza vaccines market,” CEO Dr Brian McNamee said today. “In doing so, CSL will be applying more than 40 years of experience in developing and manufacturing influenza vaccines.”
About CSL
Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, CSL Limited is a global, specialty biopharmaceutical company that researches, develops, manufactures and markets products to treat and prevent serious human medical conditions. With major facilities in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the U.S., CSL has more than 10,000 employees working in 27 countries.
The CSL Group has a combined heritage of outstanding contribution to medicine and human health with more than 90 years experience in the development and manufacture of vaccines and plasma protein biotherapies. In fiscal year 2008, the company produced revenues of approximately A$3.8 billion.
i always advice my kids to wear face masks when going into crowded areas. swine flu is really scary and i dont want my kids getting infected by it.