BioDiem, Serum Institute of India sales and marketing update

Serum Institute launched BioDiem's NasoVac live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) against swine influenza A (H1N1) in India. Serum Institute has a sublicense to the vaccine under the World Health Organization's Pandemic Flu program. Nobilon International B.V., a unit of Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK, Whitehouse Station, N.J.), has rights to the LAIV program worldwide, excluding the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Japan and North America. WHO has the right to sublicense the technology to governmental or non-governmental organizations or private companies in developing countries to enable seasonal and pandemic vaccine production in eggs. WHO sub-licensees must distribute the vaccine in the public sector of their own countries, and the public sector of certain other developing countries that do not have the required manufacturing capacity, free-of-charge or at low cost. ...