Novartis given $220m by US for flu vaccine development

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has given Novartis up to $220 million (118.8 million pounds) to help it research and develop flu vaccines for both seasonal outbreaks and worldwide pandemics.

Novartis says it intends to use modern biotechnology cell cultures to research the vaccine as they are far quicker in developing cultures than the traditional method, which uses chicken eggs. The company stated that this would enable it to produce vaccines much more quickly and help it respond to new threats quickly and effectively without waiting being hindered by egg-related logistical difficulties.

Dr Daniel Vasella, Novartis chairman and chief executive, said: “We will be investing additional resources in highly skilled researchers to set up one of the first flu cell culture manufacturing sites in the US. This plant will contribute to America’s vaccine infrastructure for seasonal flu and support the US government’s ability to respond quickly to a potential pandemic, with access to new technologies to ensure sufficient capacity.”

Currently much research is based around the H5N1 influenza virus, a strain deriving from birds. So far just over 100 people worldwide have died from the virus – mostly people in constant direct contact with birds – but the virus has not as yet mutated to become infectious between humans.

Other companies awarded large influenza research grants by the HHS include GlaxoSmithKline ($274.75 million), Solvay ($298.59 million) MedImmune ($169.46million), and DynPort Vaccine with Baxter International ($40.97 million).

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