Swine Flu / 2009 H1N1 Flu: Vaccine Ready for Testing

"Novartis says produces first batch of H1N1 vaccine"
The Associated Press (April 12, 2009)

"Swiss pharmaceuticals company Novartis AG said Friday it has successfully produced a first batch of swine flu vaccine weeks ahead of expectations.

"The vaccine was made in cells, rather than grown in eggs as is usually the case with vaccines, the company said...."

The article also says that this first batch is earmarked for "...for pre-clinical evaluation and testing. It is also being considered for clinical trials,..." so it won't be available right now. The company says its vaccine will be available in September.

Assuming that there aren't any hitches in testing, Novartis says that the plant in Marburg, Germany, where this batch was produced could (potentially) produce millions of doses a week. And, there's a plant being built in North Carolina.

Good news. I'm curious about the detail that this vaccine is grown in cells, rather than eggs. Maybe we'll be reading more, later, as Novartis releases more information.

More, at "SWINE FLU: NOVARTIS, VACCINE AVAILABLE BY FALL," AGI News On (June 12, 2009). List of posts relating to Swine flu 2009; and list of background resources:

• "Swine Flu 2009"
  • "Swine flu 2009 posts"
  • "Background and more information"
    Including links to
    • "1918 Influenza Timeline"
    • "The Influenza Pandemic of 1918"
  • "WHO Alert Phases"
  • " 'Public Health Emergency' - What's That Mean? "