GlaxoSmithKline offers update on government H1N1 vaccine orders

GlaxoSmithKline has published an update of the orders it has received from the British government for its H1N1 vaccine this year.

According the pharmaceutical firm, its H1N1 vaccine contracts amounted to 291 million doses in August as well as a further $250 million (156 million pounds) batch for the US government.

Since then, the firm has accepted a further 22 government orders for the product, the equivalent of 149 million doses, bringing the number it has supplied to date up to 440 million.

The first supplies of the vaccine were shipped on October 5th 2009 and will continue to be delivered during the final quarter of this year and the first half of 2010.

It adds, however, that the delivery of the supplies is subject to various factors, including import and export regulations, approvals for outsourced packaging and filling and reference laboratory testing.

The vaccine was approved last week by the European commission following tests which showed that after one dose, candidates demonstrated significant immunity to the H1N1 influenza virus.