Vaccine Research
> Takeda and Baxter "will expand upon their previously announced collaboration to bring Vero cell culture-based influenza vaccines to the Japanese market." Report
> The FDA has given Bavarian Nordic the green light to launch a late stage trial of its prostate cancer vaccine. Story
> In a research report presented in the December 2010 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, scientists from Singapore show that Mycobacterium chelonae, a common environmental bacterium found in soil and water, can decrease the effectiveness of the bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine used to prevent tuberculosis, especially in countries outside of the United States. Release
Vaccine Market
> J&J has formally offered $2.3 billion to acquire the Dutch vaccine maker Crucell. The two companies agreed on the buyout last October. If the deal proceeds as planned, J&J's vaccine gambit will qualify as its biggest acquisition in four years. Article
> Canadian health officials are calling for a national vaccination strategy, saying it's time to do away with the "patchwork" approach that has been in use. Story