Sales revenue of $205 million for CSL Pharmaceutical compared favourably with our result for the previous year, given a reduction in pharmaceutical distribution activities.

CSL’s new influenza vaccine centre in Melbourne was officially opened in May 2005. Australia’s first line of defence against influenza, the new centre includes an expanded and upgraded manufacturing facility and a new vaccine seed preparation laboratory.

The new vaccine centre has significantly increased CSL’s ability to supply the Australian public with influenza vaccine and the benefit of this position has already been demonstrated in the first few months of operation. Owing to a shortage of vaccine from other suppliers, CSL provided all Australian Federal Government requirements for the 2005 season to vaccinate people aged 65 and over, and also made up part of the shortfall in New Zealand.

The only facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the new centre will play a key role in combating influenza outbreaks in the Asia Pacific region.

In the event of an influenza pandemic, CSL now also has the capacity to efficiently provide vaccine for the entire Australian population. In this regard, CSL continues to play an essential part in protecting Australia from influenza and other serious infectious diseases.

Further opportunities for opening up new markets in Europe and South East Asia can now be realised, particularly in the light of shortages of influenza vaccine worldwide.

CSL is a participant in two of Australia’s national vaccination programs with our Fluvax® influenza vaccine and Pneumovax 23, a vaccine against pneumoccocal disease that we distribute in Australia on behalf of Merck & Co. Inc. The national Pneumovax 23 program began in January 2005 and includes everyone aged 65 and over, people with chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, liver or renal diseases), people with alcohol-related problems, tobacco smokers and those who are immunocompromised.

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