GSK gets further swine flu gov contracts

4th Aug 2009 17:38

Drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline said nine government contracts have been signed for a further 96m of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine since it announced in July that the US government had ordered 195m doses. It now brings the total number of doses ordered for GSK's adjuvanted vaccine to 291m. The group said discussions are ongoing with governments for further supplies. The first supplies of the vaccine will be available to governments from September onwards, with shipments expected in the second half of 2009 and early 2010. "The exact pace of delivery will be dependent on capacity and the yield of the influenza strain," it said. GSK said to ensure that the vaccine is available to developing nations, and subject to the yield and existing contractual commitments, it has allocated 20% of production at its Canadian manufacturing site to developing countries from early September onwards. Included within this capacity is GSK's proposed donation of 50m doses of the H1N1 vaccine to the World Health Organisation (WHO). "Ongoing discussions with developing country governments may well lead to an increase in the percentage of output supplied to developing countries," it added.