Baxter gets approval for mock pandemic vaccine

Baxter has received approval for a mock-up pandemic vaccine named Celvapan.

The company, which is part of a World Health Organisation pandemic vaccine supply group that meets weekly, said the European Medicines Agency has now given the green light to Celvapan.

Manufacturing, development and qualification processes used to gain the approval will be applied to the creation of an A/H1N1 virus vaccine containing an actual pandemic strain.

Baxter is working on this project using its Vero cell culture, which could provide more rapid production and delivery.

“At this point the company is taking all appropriate steps necessary to prepare for a large-scale vaccine production,” it stated.

The news follows publication of Baxter’s first quarter financial results last month.

It said worldwide sales declined by two per cent, but excluding the impact of foreign currency the figure grew by seven per cent.

Net income rose by 20 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2008.