Pharmaceutical Companies Prepare for Pandemic Vaccine Production

The World Health Organisation has sent "wild type virus" samples of the A (H1N1) virus to a dozen pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, and Sanofi-Aventis, to support the development of a pandemic vaccine against swine flu. The virus has already been confirmed to have killed 53 people and infected nearly 4,700 in 30 countries, with a fatality rate estimated at 0.4 per cent. Specialist discussions are underway to decide whether the virus is lethal enough to justify producing a special vaccine, or whether to modify the current seasonal flu vaccine.

Key Takeaways:

• The WHO has sent "wild type virus" samples of the A (H1N1) virus to 12 pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, and Sanofi-Aventis.
• The virus has been confirmed to have killed 53 people and infected nearly 4,700 in 30 countries.
• The estimated fatality rate of the A (H1N1) virus is 0.4 per cent, four times that of seasonal flu.
• Companies are considering whether to produce a special vaccine or modify the existing seasonal flu vaccine.
• Novartis produces one authorised vaccine with a patented chemical adjuvant, while other companies are working on rival adjuvants.
• The egg-based production approach will take four to six months to produce a new vaccine, potentially making it available for a second wave of the virus in the northern hemisphere by the end of this year.
• There is little prospect of a vaccine for the southern hemisphere outbreaks likely in the next few months.
• Global capacity to produce a pandemic vaccine is far less than the amount needed to vaccinate the world's population.

Statistics:

• 53 people killed by A (H1N1)
• 4,700 people infected by A (H1N1) in 30 countries
• 0.4 per cent estimated fatality rate of A (H1N1) virus
• 500,000 people killed annually by seasonal flu

Sources:

• The World Health Organisation
• Science paper published online yesterday (no specific date mentioned)