Oz trial ... swine flu vaccine
By Steve Hawkes, Business Editor
VACCINES against swine flu will be ready within weeks, a British drugs giant announced yesterday.
GlaxoSmithKline said it would start shipping its 60million doses to the UK in September.
Its US rival Baxter confirmed it would also have a limited number of jabs ready soon.
The Government has ordered around 130 million doses from the two companies - enough for two jabs per person.
Glaxo chief executive Andrew Witty told The Sun: "Short of putting beds in the labs we are throwing every resource we have got into this situation."
The news came after the World Health Organisation warned this month that a vaccine was "months away".
Glaxo started work on 195 million doses for 50 countries in June. It has tripled production of swine flu treatment Relenza - recommended for mums to be - to 190million doses.
Mr Witty insisted Glaxo would not cash in on the pandemic.
It is charging Western nations seven euros per vaccine, but dropping the price for poor countries and donating 50 million doses to the WHO.
Mr Witty added: "We have tried to strike a fair deal."
Some 540 volunteers have begun a seven-month trial for Aussie firm Vaxine's jab in Adelaide. [rc]
© 2009 News Group Newspapers Ltd.
Related story in The Financial Times, London, July 23, 2009
July 23, 2009
UK: Vaccine ‘in weeks’
.
LONDON, England / The Sun / News / July 23, 2009
Oz trial ... swine flu vaccine
By Steve Hawkes, Business Editor
VACCINES against swine flu will be ready within weeks, a British drugs giant announced yesterday.
GlaxoSmithKline said it would start shipping its 60million doses to the UK in September.
Its US rival Baxter confirmed it would also have a limited number of jabs ready soon.
The Government has ordered around 130 million doses from the two companies - enough for two jabs per person.
Glaxo chief executive Andrew Witty told The Sun: "Short of putting beds in the labs we are throwing every resource we have got into this situation."
The news came after the World Health Organisation warned this month that a vaccine was "months away".
Glaxo started work on 195 million doses for 50 countries in June. It has tripled production of swine flu treatment Relenza - recommended for mums to be - to 190million doses.
Mr Witty insisted Glaxo would not cash in on the pandemic.
It is charging Western nations seven euros per vaccine, but dropping the price for poor countries and donating 50 million doses to the WHO.
Mr Witty added: "We have tried to strike a fair deal."
Some 540 volunteers have begun a seven-month trial for Aussie firm Vaxine's jab in Adelaide. [rc]
© 2009 News Group Newspapers Ltd.
Related story in The Financial Times, London, July 23, 2009
Oz trial ... swine flu vaccine
By Steve Hawkes, Business Editor
VACCINES against swine flu will be ready within weeks, a British drugs giant announced yesterday.
GlaxoSmithKline said it would start shipping its 60million doses to the UK in September.
Its US rival Baxter confirmed it would also have a limited number of jabs ready soon.
The Government has ordered around 130 million doses from the two companies - enough for two jabs per person.
Glaxo chief executive Andrew Witty told The Sun: "Short of putting beds in the labs we are throwing every resource we have got into this situation."
The news came after the World Health Organisation warned this month that a vaccine was "months away".
Glaxo started work on 195 million doses for 50 countries in June. It has tripled production of swine flu treatment Relenza - recommended for mums to be - to 190million doses.
Mr Witty insisted Glaxo would not cash in on the pandemic.
It is charging Western nations seven euros per vaccine, but dropping the price for poor countries and donating 50 million doses to the WHO.
Mr Witty added: "We have tried to strike a fair deal."
Some 540 volunteers have begun a seven-month trial for Aussie firm Vaxine's jab in Adelaide. [rc]
© 2009 News Group Newspapers Ltd.
Related story in The Financial Times, London, July 23, 2009
