UK Drug Giant GSK to Start Shipping Flu Vaccine

British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline will next week begin shipping its swine flu vaccine Pandemrix across Europe, the group announced on Wednesday following approval by regulators.

"Following the (European) Commission's approval we expect to commence shipments of Pandemrix to European governments from next week," said Jean Stephenne, President of GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, in a company statement.

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The news came one day after the European Commission cleared Pandemrix and another vaccine, Focetria, for distribution in Europe. Focetria is produced by Swiss pharaceuticals group Novartis.

"GSK confirmed today that the European Commission has granted marketing authorisation of GSK's pandemic (H1N1) adjuvanted vaccine Pandemrix for protection against pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza," the group added Wednesday.

The decision on the two vaccines was pushed through last week by the European Medicines Agency amid deep concern about the new winter influenza season and an upturn in British cases of swine flu.

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Health experts have meanwhile warned of a second wave of flu in the coming months as the northern hemisphere winter approaches.

The commission had announced Tuesday that the vaccines will be authorised for use in all 27 EU member nations as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The authorisation was expected to take effect by October 1.

GSK Begins Trials of Swine Flu Vaccine in Germany
British pharmaceuticals group GlaxoSmithKline said Friday it had begun clinical trials in Germany of a vaccine to combat the swine flu pandemic, with results expected from next month.

The development comes after the number of new swine flu cases in Britain almost doubled in a week following a summer lull, according to recent official data.

In Britain -- the hardest hit European country by the virus -- authorities aim to begin vaccinations in October.

Novartis Ships Seasonal Flu Vaccine Ahead of Schedule to US
Swiss drug-maker Novartis said Wednesday that it had begun shipping seasonal flu vaccine to the United States weeks ahead of schedule, in order to address increased demand amid the swine flu pandemic.

The World Health Organization has meanwhile warned that drugs companies can produce only three billion doses of swine flu vaccines a year. That would cover less than half of the global population.

Source-AFP
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