Chiron will not supply Fluvirin influenza virus vaccine for 2004-2005 influenza season
Chiron will not supply Fluvirin influenza virus vaccine for 2004-2005 influenza season
EMERYVILLE, CALIF., October 5, 2004 -- Chiron Corporation announced that the UK regulatory body, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has temporarily suspended the company's license to manufacture Fluvirin influenza virus vaccine in its Liverpool facility, preventing the company from releasing any of the product during the 2004-2005 influenza season. Chiron has not released any Fluvirin into any territory, and therefore there is no requirement to recall or withdraw any vaccine.
"Chiron deeply regrets that we will be unable to meet public health needs this season. We take our responsibility to protect human health very seriously," said Howard Pien, president and CEO of Chiron. "Chiron believes in the value of influenza vaccination, and we are committed to taking all necessary actions to ensure an adequate vaccine supply for the 2005-2006 influenza season."
As Chiron conducted its internal quality assurance confirmatory testing in recent weeks, MHRA, in its capacity as the Liverpool production facility's local regulatory authority, reviewed the test data and the manufacturing processes at the facility. As noted in the company's September 28, 2004, press release, Chiron anticipated that the regulatory review process would be satisfactorily completed in time to allow release of Fluvirin in early October. However, MHRA has asserted that Chiron's manufacturing process does not comply with UK Good Manufacturing Practices regulations and has suspended the company's Liverpool facility license to manufacture influenza vaccine for three months. Chiron has initiated discussions with the MHRA to determine the appropriate corrective actions.
In August, Chiron announced a delay in providing Fluvirin for the 2004-2005 influenza season. Chiron has communicated regularly with the FDA, which has regulatory oversight for vaccines marketed in the United States, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which makes recommendations for influenza vaccination through its National Immunization Program (NIP) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Chiron has informed the FDA, CDC and the UK Department of Health of the current situation.
Chiron had previously expected to provide nearly half the U.S. supply for the 2004-2005 influenza season and is discussing potential impact with the FDA and CDC. In the United Kingdom, where Fluvirin typically accounts for approximately 20 percent of the influenza vaccine market, Chiron plans to make up a significant proportion of this supply with vaccines that are produced at its other European sites and approved for use in the United Kingdom (but not the United States). Chiron plans to continue to work with the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) in preparation for the 2005-2006 influenza season.
"Our manufacturing and quality staff have worked hard to resolve what we viewed as a problem limited in scope to a few batches, and we believe our quality assurance confirmatory testing demonstrates that the Fluvirin doses we anticipated releasing are safe. While the MHRA's conclusions are unexpected, we respect the regulatory authority's judgment," said John Lambert, president of Chiron Vaccines. "We apologize unreservedly to the public and our customers for being unable to meet our commitments this year."
Source: Chiron press release
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