Swine flu vaccine ready for clinical trials
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June 13, 2009 by fluoutbreak
(ChinaPost.com.tw) – While millions could catch the flu, governments and health experts around the world have sought to play down fears that influenza A(H1N1) could become a major killer.
Swine flu has so far infected almost 30,000 people in 74 countries and claimed 145 lives since it was first detected in Mexico in April, according to WHO figures.
Swiss drugs firm Novartis says it has completed a first batch of vaccine for pre-clinical trials and aims to make a version available in about four months.
“Novartis has successfully completed the production of the first batch of influenza A(H1N1) vaccine, weeks ahead of expectations,” the company said in a statement.
The batch “will be used for pre-clinical evaluation and testing and is also being considered for use in clinical trials,” it said.
Novartis hopes to start the trials in July and to gain a licence soon after. It said more than 30 governments had already asked for A(H1N1) virus “vaccine ingredients”.
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