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Baxter, Novartis say they're ready with swine flu vaccine
Specialty drug makers in Switzerland and the US offer a gleam of hope during the UN pandemic alert with a H1N1 virus vaccine.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed nearly 29,669 cases of the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, in 74 countries.
Baxter International Inc., a global, diversified healthcare company, says it is in “full scale” production of a swine flu vaccine that will be commercially available in July.
Swiss drug maker Novartis AG has announced that an experimental swine flu vaccine could be on the market by the autumn of 2009.
The pharmaceutical company claims: “Novartis has successfully completed the production of the first batch of influenza A-H1N1 vaccine, weeks ahead of expectations.”
In a statement, Novartis said it is quicker to make the vaccine through cell-based production than having to adapt the virus strain to grow in eggs, which is usually the case.
