# 3268
Helen Branswell of the Canadian Press – who is widely regarded as one of the best science reporters in the business – brings us another top-notch account of the latest steps towards getting to a swine flu vaccine.
The CDC has begun sending seed strains to manufacturers who will now produce `pilot lots’ of vaccine for animal and human testing.
As always, follow the link to read Ms. Branswell’s story in its entirety.
Seed strains for swine flu vaccine sent out to pharmaceutical companies
By Helen Branswell –
TORONTO — At least one flu vaccine manufacturer has received and others will be receiving shortly swine flu seed strains, the basic building block for the production of influenza vaccine, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and some vaccine makers confirmed Wednesday.
That means the race is on to produce pilot lots of swine flu vaccine that can be tested for safety and efficacy, and to determine how large a dose and how many shots are needed to protect people against the new H1N1 virus.
Sanofi Pasteur, the world's largest producer of flu vaccine, announced in a statement that it had received the seed strain from the CDC and would begin to produce a "working stock" immediately at its newly certified facility in Swiftwater, Pa.
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1 comments:
"...It's estimated vaccine makers will finish making the seasonal flu vaccine sometime late next month or into July..."
July? Really? The article did not clearly explain if that was when they would be safety testing or whether it would begin to be shipped then. Maybe not so good an idea to give people a date, because they might expect it at their doctor's office in July.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jeJSZ9aMpjQeVhsLu5bpMhALQ2nQ
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