HHS Purchases Additional H1N1 Vaccine Ingredients

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the department will commit
$884 million to purchase additional supplies of two key ingredients for
potential H1N1 vaccine to further prepare the nation for a potential resurgence
of the 2009 H1N1 virus.

"We recognize that preparedness is shared responsibility between federal,
tribal, state, local governments, private organizations and individuals. We are
doing our part to be as prepared as possible for the impact that this infectious
disease could have on our country," Secretary Sebelius said. "Vaccines may serve
an important role in that preparedness. The action we are taking today will
provide flexibility in a future immunization program, if a program is
recommended."

The funds will be used to place additional orders for bulk H1N1 antigen and
adjuvant on existing contracts with Sanofi Pasteur, MedImmune, GlaxoSmithKline
and Novartis. The vaccine ingredients will become a part of the pandemic
stockpile, for use if a vaccination campaign is necessary.

Antigen is the active ingredient in a vaccine that causes the human body`s
immune system to develop antibodies that help fight an invading virus. Depending
on the results of clinical studies, adjuvant could be added to a vaccine to
boost the immune system`s response and potentially reduce the amount of antigen
necessary for the body to recognize and fight a virus.

In May, Secretary Sebelius directed approximately $1 billion to be used for the
development of a vaccine and for clinical studies to determine dose level and
assess the safety and effectiveness of potential vaccines.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the HHS
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response established the
existing contracts with these companies in 2004 as part of the National Strategy
for Pandemic Influenza.

More information about today`s contract action is available at
https://www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/BARDA/MCM/panflu/factsheet.aspx. For the
latest on the 2009 Influenza A H1N1 virus, see www.flu.gov. To learn more about
the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza visit
http://www.flu.gov/plan/federal/pandemic-influenza.pdf. More about BARDA is
available at http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/barda/index.html.

Manufacturer Bulk Vaccine Bulk Virus Bulk Oil and
Antigen Concentrate/FFF Water Adjuvant
Sanofi Pasteur $61,425,000 0 0
GSK $0 0 $71,400,000
Novartis $346,334,450 0 $343,810,470
CSL $0 0 0
MedImmune $0 $61,020,000 0
TOTAL $407,759,450 $61,020,000 $415,210,470

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

HHS Press Office
202-690-6343

Copyright Business Wire 2009