Last week the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced it has raised the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6.
As mentioned a few months ago on this blog, we're working closely with public health authorities to help address this pandemic.
From a GSK corporate press release issued last week:
"Following receipt of the seed strain from the WHO at the end of May, the company has begun the process necessary for development of the new vaccine at both the Canadian and German manufacturing sites. The first step for manufacturing an influenza vaccine is to prepare the seed strain for production, which will take several weeks. The company will then start production of the new candidate A (H1N1) influenza vaccine. The first doses of the A (H1N1) vaccine antigen are expected to be available in four to six months time, subject to regulatory approval.
GSK remains committed to supporting governments and health authorities around the world respond to the emergence of the new A (H1N1) influenza virus, including addressing the needs of developing countries. GSK has offered to convert its intended donation to the WHO of 50 million doses of H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine to the new candidate A (H1N1) adjuvanted influenza vaccine once production begins. As capacity increases, GSK will supply the vaccine to developing countries under a tiered-pricing policy based on World Bank classifications and GAVI eligibility."
In addition to our work in flu, as a global pharmaceutical company that makes and markets several critical medicines for serious chronic and even deadly diseases, we also have an obligation to ensure our manufacturing and supply chains continue to operate effectively through this health crisis. GSK teams are now implementing carefully-developed plans to help continue an un-interrupted supply of these medicines to the people that need them throughout the world.
Stay tuned for future updates.
Leave a comment