GSK backs WHO on influenza pandemic preparations

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has expressed its support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its development of plans to guarantee the most vulnerable people are protected in the event of a global pandemic of influenza.

The company reports that part of the commitment from the WHO is the exploration of means to widen access to H5N1 vaccine in the developing world alongside the establishment of a global stockpile of the vaccine.

GSK announced in March 2007 that its adjuvanted candidate vaccine for H5N1 produced a strong cross-immune neutralising antibody response in patients, findings the company suggests indicate the accumulation of influenza vaccine could be of potential benefit to public health.

Jean-Pierre Garnier, chief executive officer of GSK, said: “We share a common goal with the WHO – to deliver as much vaccine as possible to the people who need it most in the face of a pandemic flu outbreak.”

He added that the company would continue to seek the goal of an international solution to this latent disaster through its partnership with global bodies including the WHO.

In January 2007, GSK announced the filing of its H5N1 split antigen pre-pandemic influenza vaccine for review by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in Europe.