Swine Flu
Brazil says it will start producing an H1N1 vaccine in October with plans to initially make 30 million doses of the jab. Story
The WHO says that new cases of Tamiflu-resistant swine flu have appeared. Report
The small biotech Inovio has inked a deal with the NIH's vaccine research group to develop a new universal flu vaccine that could guard against both seasonal influenza and swine flu. The news helped buoy Inovio's stock, which has soared in recent weeks. Story
India's Cadila Pharmaceuticals is seeking regulatory permission to begin clinical trials of a new swine flu vaccine. Report
Mumbai, India's financial capital, has ordered all schools and colleges to close for a week, in the hopes that a shutdown will blunt the spread of the flu. Report
Vaccine Research
The FDA has extended its review of Wyeth's Prevnar 13 for an additional three months, saying it needs more time to review technical data. Sales of the current version of Prevnar hit $2.7 billion last year, and the prospects of earning billions more from the expanded jab was a key motive behind Pfizer's acquisition of Wyeth. Report
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease has awarded a $2.9 million grant to Hawaii Biotech for the continued development of a new vaccine that can guard against tick-borne encephalitis. Story
Vaccine Market
Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has struck a deal to sell off another big piece of itself. GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay $46 million--$20 million upfront--for its PentaStaph program, a vaccine in development to guard against hospital-acquired staph infection. The final $26 million will be doled out if the program hits four key milestones. Story
Growing revenue from pediatric and travel vaccines helped Crucell narrow losses for the second quarter. Report
Barron's has taken a close look at Novartis' pipeline and bullishly concluded that the pharma giant has assembled one of the most promising drug pipelines in the industry. And those experimental therapies, including vaccines, are expected to deliver a big bonanza for investors. Report
Only half of all doctors in Texas always recommend the HPV vaccine to girls, despite national guidelines that advise the jab for all girls. Story