CSL

CSL operates one of the largest influenza vaccine manufacturing facilities in the world at our Parkville site in Melbourne and has more than 40 years experience in the production of these vaccines.

In 2008, we significantly expanded the capacity of our Melbourne plant to support the continuing international growth of this vaccine business. CSL also has influenza vaccine dispensing and packaging facilities at Marburg in Germany and Kankakee, Illinois in the US.

Our Melbourne plant can produce up to 80 million doses of vaccine each year to help meet demand for both Southern and Northern Hemisphere influenza seasons. CSL’s influenza vaccines are now registered and marketed in twenty-seven countries.

Pandemic Influenza Vaccine

Following the June 2009 World Heath Organisation announcement of an influenza pandemic, CSL has developed a pandemic vaccine (H1N1) and is carrying out clinical trials to establish an optimum vaccine dose. As soon as clinical trials are successfully completed, CSL will seek approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to register a vaccine.

The initial order from the Australian Government for the pandemic vaccine is for 21 million (15mcg) doses. CSL has also signed a $US180 million contract with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide bulk H1N1 influenza antigen. The HHS contract includes the opportunity to use our influenza vaccine dispensing and packaging facilities in the US and Germany. We also have contracts for pandemic vaccine with New Zealand and Singapore.

Last year, the TGA approved CSL’s Panvax® pandemic avian influenza vaccine for Australian use in the event of an outbreak of that virus strain. That Panvax® (H5N1) vaccine was also developed in collaboration with the Australian Government.

The current pandemic is the result of a novel type A virus (H1N1) emerging and then spreading rapidly through populations not previously exposed to it.