NOVARTIS TO BUILD FLU VACCINE MANUFACTURING PLANT IN NORTH CAROLINA

Swiss drugmaker Novartis announced plans to build the first cell culture-derived influenza vaccines manufacturing plant in the United States at a site in Holly Springs, N.C., with construction expected to begin in 2007.

The company also announced the first European Union submission of a cell culture-derived influenza vaccine. The submission to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use was made in June. Novartis is also making additional investments in its Marburg, Germany, site to expand capacity for flu cell culture vaccines production in Europe.

The company is seeking to become the first to commercially produce and market flu cell culture vaccines in European markets.