Business

Novartis opens plant in N.C. to create flu vaccines

JOURNAL STAFF AND WIRE REPORT

Published: November 25, 2009

Updated: 11/25/2009 12:50 am

BASEL, Switzerland -- Novartis AG, a Swiss maker of pharmaceuticals, has opened the first U.S. plant to produce flu vaccines using cell cultures instead of methods based on the use of eggs, it said yesterday.

The new site in Holly Springs, N.C., is unlikely to ramp up output in time to produce vaccines for the current swine-flu pandemic, but it will be active for the 2011 flu season.

Total investment in the plant, which was received a $487 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was nearly $1 billion, Novartis said.

Novartis said that 191 employees are working at the plant and that the number will go up to 350 when the plant is in full operation.

Novartis said that once the plant is in full operation, it will be able to supply 150 million doses of pandemic flu vaccine six months after a pandemic is declared.