Novartis to Boost US Flu Vaccine Supply, Gains Access to Intercell's Technology

Novartis Vaccines (Basel, Switzerland, www.novartisvaccines.com) plans to produce approximately 40 million doses of its Fluvirin vaccine for distribution in the US during the upcoming 2007–2008 influenza season-a 30% increase in supply from Novartis compared with the previous influenza season. Based on accelerated production plans, approximately half of these doses are planned for delivery by the end of September, with all doses expected to be delivered by the end of October.

Novartis has also formed a strategic alliance with Intercell AG (Vienna, Austria, www.intercell.com) giving Novartis access to 10 Intercell vaccine projects in preclinical early-stage development. Key vaccine candidates included in the deal, valued at $270 million, are IC43 for the prevention of hospital-acquired pseudomonas infections and IC47 for the prevention of pneumonia infections.