Baxter, Novartis infectious news

Baxter and Novartis said during their 2Q09 conference calls on June 16 that swine influenza A (H1N1) vaccine production yields are lower than yields for seasonal influenza A (H1N1) vaccines. Novartis said yields are 30-50% of the normal yields for seasonal influenza vaccine, and the low yields occur in both egg- and cell-based manufacturing methods. The World Health Organization (WHO) is working to provide manufacturers with a better virus seed that would produce higher yields. ...