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Biotech / Medical : Biotech Valuation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tomato who wrote (13321)	10/5/2004 2:51:19 PM
From: Biomaven	Respond to of 52153

Flu vaccine supply in question By Kristen Gerencher, CBS.MarketWatch.com Last Update: 2:43 PM ET Oct. 5, 2004 E-mail it \| Print \| Alert \| Reprint \| RSS SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- The U.S. government said Tuesday that it's working with a major flu-vaccine manufacturer other than Chiron to see if producing more doses is possible at this late stage. The U.K.'s Chiron said earlier that it won't be able to provide nearly half the U.S. supply of flu vaccines this year, because the British government halted vaccine production and is preventing the company from shipping vaccine doses to the United States. Chiron's woes come as a blow to health officials trying to shore up the U.S. stockpile after last year's harsh flu season raised consumer demand. Flu-shot season typically begins in October, but the lengthy manufacturing process begins months earlier. The U.S. government expects to have about 54 million traditional vaccine doses from Aventis (SNY: news, chart, profile) and another 1 million to 2 million doses of the newer nasal spray version called FluMist, the Health and Human Services Department said in a statement. Chiron (CHIR: news, chart, profile), was supposed to deliver 46 million to 48 million doses, the department said. Officials wanted to boost supplies to more than 100 million doses this year, up from nearly 87 million initially produced last year. In light of the short supply, consumers should seek updates as health officials assess the situation and consider prioritizing the remaining expected doses for those with the most medical need, HHS added. "Our immediate focus will be on making sure that the supply we do have reaches those who are most vulnerable," officials said. "We will need the help of the public, the public health community and the medical community to make sure that the vaccine goes to those who truly need it most." Rethinking strategy Early Tuesday, Chiron announced that the British government suspended the manufacturing license at its Liverpool plant and forbade the company to sell the vaccine in the United Kingdom for three months. The company indicated it won't be able to provide any of the virus vaccines during the 2004-05 flu season, a move expected to impact other Western nations as well. See related story. "Chiron deeply regrets that we will be unable to meet public health needs this season," Chief Executive Howard Pien said in a statement. "We take our responsibility to protect human health very seriously." Chiron executives had testified before Congress last week that they anticipated no further delays in U.S. shipments. About 1.5 million doses of the inhaled version, FluMist from MedImmune (MEDI: news, chart, profile), typically buttress the supply, but FluMist is not approved for use in children under five and older adults, who make up the populations most advised to receive flu vaccines. Last year's flu season got off to an unusually early and harsh start and killed 142 children before it subsided, prompting people who don't typically get the flu shot to seek protection. As a result, health officials called for increased production this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in late August when Chiron was only delaying shipments that it didn't expect a public health crisis. Chiron was expected to deliver about 40 million doses in October, while Aventis began delivering some in August and planned another 15 million to 20 million to ship in September, CDC Director Julie Gerberding said six weeks ago. The CDC is expected to give an update later Tuesday. The setback comes as the CDC moves toward recommending near-universal vaccination. The agency recently dropped the age at which it recommends shots for older people to 50 from 65. It now recommends inoculations for 185 million Americans -- two-thirds of the population. Others who should receive flu vaccines are those with chronic conditions, those who expect to be pregnant, kids under two, health care workers and people who come into contact with these groups. About 36,000 Americans die from flu-related complications, many of them seniors, and another 114,000 flu victims are hospitalized annually.