Statement: Baxter Working on Vaccine for A/H1N1 Influenza

Baxter International Inc. is in contact with World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies regarding the current A/H1N1 influenza outbreak, and is also actively monitoring announcements and changes in the pandemic alert level. The WHO has set up a pandemic vaccine supply group that meets weekly and Baxter is part of that group.

Baxter's research and development, manufacturing capability and pandemic planning expertise allows the company to efficiently develop candidate vaccines against potentially emerging influenza viruses . Baxter believes that its Vero cell technology can safely and reliably deliver vaccines in pandemic and interpandemic situations as we endeavor to address this global public health issue.

Using this Vero cell technology, Baxter has received European Medicines Agency (EMEA) approval for a mock up pandemic vaccine called CELVAPAN, the brand name for the company’s pandemic vaccine. The qualification, development and manufacturing processes used in gaining mock up licensure for CELVAPAN will apply as we use this new influenza A/H1N1 virus strain to develop a pandemic vaccine. The CELVAPAN EMEA licensure allows for fast track approval of a pandemic vaccine containing an actual pandemic strain.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a WHO Collaborating Center, has provided samples of the virus strain to specialized vaccine manufacturers, including Baxter. Baxter is working on a vaccine using its Vero cell culture . It is possible that Baxter’s Vero cell technology may offer advantages, in that it may allow more rapid production and delivery of pandemic vaccines. At this point the company is taking all appropriate steps necessary to prepare for a large-scale vaccine production.