CSL Biotherapies Awarded US Government Contract for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response

CSL Biotherapies Awarded US Government Contract for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Sept. 10, 2012  -- CSL Biotherapies, a subsidiary of CSL Limited (CSL.AX), one of the world's leading manufacturers of influenza vaccine, announced it has been awarded a contract by the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services to supply pre-pandemic and pandemic vaccine antigens and related services to the U.S. national stockpile.

Under the terms of the contract, the U.S. Government may request CSL Biotherapies to manufacture and store bulk antigen that can be used against influenza strains with pandemic potential. The Company may also be called upon to develop working virus 'seeds' for other manufacturers and to formulate, fill and finish bulk stored antigen.

"We are very pleased to again be working with the U.S. Government on its pandemic preparedness efforts," said Dr. John Anderson, Senior Vice President of CSL Biotherapies.  "CSL Biotherapies is committed to helping to protect the American public against the potential impact of an influenza pandemic. We are proud to contribute our 45 years of successful influenza vaccine manufacturing experience to the U.S. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza."

Funding for the CSL Biotherapies contract is provided solely by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under contract No HHSO100201200011I.  The contract has a maximum potential value of $1,511,407,737.78 if all optional activities are exercised over the duration of the contract.

About CSL Biotherapies

The United States headquarters of CSL Biotherapies are located in King of Prussia, PA. Its parent company, CSL Limited, in Melbourne, Australia (CSL.AX) has invested  US$ 80million to double the Company's influenza manufacturing capacity to 40 million trivalent influenza vaccine doses per season, making it one of the largest influenza vaccine facilities for global markets. CSL Biotherapies, which shares its United States headquarters with its sister company, CSL Behring, commercializes influenza vaccine products globally. The CSL Group employs more than 11,000 people and operates in 27 countries worldwide. For more information, visit us at www.csl.com.au and at http://www.cslbiotherapies-us.com.

Media Contact: 
Sheila Burke
Director, Commercial Operations Communications and Public Relations
610-878-4209