GlaxoSmithKline slips after France cuts back on swine flu vaccine
The FTSE 100 may be on the rise again - up nearly 30 points at the moment - but GlaxoSmithKline is missing out on the rally.
Shares in the pharmaceutical group are down 28p at 1311.5p on concerns about the revenue prospects for its swine flu vaccine. This has been prompted by news yesterday that France has cancelled 50m doses of H1N1 vaccine from Glaxo and other suppliers, around half of the shots it had ordered. Traders said that the initial thought was that two shots per person would be needed, but now one may be sufficient.
The French move followed decisions by Spain, Germany and Switzerland last month to cut deliveries. Analysts are therefore becoming increasingly pessimistic about revenue and earnings prospects for the vaccine.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Monday, 21 December 2009
Scientists discover natural swine flu defence
Scientists found that the virus-fighting proteins protected against swine flu when levels were increased.
When the proteins were removed the swine flu virus was able to multiply in the body unchecked.
The accidental discovery may help to explain why some people develop serious symptoms when they contract flu and others do not.
The protein, IFITM3, and although it appeared to be connected to the functioning of the immune system, how it worked and what it did had never been understood.
Professor Stephen Elledge, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, US, who led the research, said: "We've uncovered the first-line defence in how our bodies fight the flu virus.
"The protein is there to stop the flu. Every cell has a constitutive immune response that is ready for the virus. If we get rid of that, the virus has a heyday."
The findings, reported in the journal Cell, could pave the way to new kinds of antiviral treatment, say the scientists. However, it remains to be seen what the long-term side effects of boosting levels of the proteins might be.
The news comes as Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, announced the latest swine flu figures showing a further drop in cases with an estimated 9,000 new diagnoses last week.
It is thought over 800,000 people have suffered symptoms of swine flu since it first emerged in England in April.
It appears that the second wave of the disease is coming to an end but he warned that it is not know what will happen in the New Year.
Sir Liam said the NHS had coped 'brilliantly' with swine flu this year.
The vaccination programme is also progressing with three million people out of the nine million in the first priority groups already immunised.
More than 100,000 pregnant women have so far been vaccinated, Prof David Salisbury, head of immunisation said, out of around 550,000 women who are pregnant at any one time in England.
Two thirds of local NHS organisations have now reached agreements with GPs to start vaccinating children aged between six months and five years.
When the proteins were removed the swine flu virus was able to multiply in the body unchecked.
The accidental discovery may help to explain why some people develop serious symptoms when they contract flu and others do not.
The protein, IFITM3, and although it appeared to be connected to the functioning of the immune system, how it worked and what it did had never been understood.
Professor Stephen Elledge, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, US, who led the research, said: "We've uncovered the first-line defence in how our bodies fight the flu virus.
"The protein is there to stop the flu. Every cell has a constitutive immune response that is ready for the virus. If we get rid of that, the virus has a heyday."
The findings, reported in the journal Cell, could pave the way to new kinds of antiviral treatment, say the scientists. However, it remains to be seen what the long-term side effects of boosting levels of the proteins might be.
The news comes as Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, announced the latest swine flu figures showing a further drop in cases with an estimated 9,000 new diagnoses last week.
It is thought over 800,000 people have suffered symptoms of swine flu since it first emerged in England in April.
It appears that the second wave of the disease is coming to an end but he warned that it is not know what will happen in the New Year.
Sir Liam said the NHS had coped 'brilliantly' with swine flu this year.
The vaccination programme is also progressing with three million people out of the nine million in the first priority groups already immunised.
More than 100,000 pregnant women have so far been vaccinated, Prof David Salisbury, head of immunisation said, out of around 550,000 women who are pregnant at any one time in England.
Two thirds of local NHS organisations have now reached agreements with GPs to start vaccinating children aged between six months and five years.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Swine Flu Vaccine Recall
Angie Drakulich PharmTech editor
As if the US community isn’t already paranoid enough about the H1N1 swine flu virus and its vaccine, this week, Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group in France, recalled 800,000 prefilled vaccines.
The recall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), didn’t have to do with a safety issue (whew!) but rather, a potency problem. In post-shipping stability tests, a few lots of the vaccine did not reach the pre-specified potency limit. Specifically, three lots that had been distributed “had an antigen content that, while properly filled at the time of manufacturing, was later measured to be below pre-specified limits,” according to the CDC fact sheet. It is common to test for stability after a vaccine’s distribution to see how well the drug maintains its potency. Unfortunately, in this case, these particular lots did not measure up.
To make matters worse, the particular lots recalled were meant for children between the ages of 6 months and 35 months, one of the populations at particular risk for getting the swine flu. For many parents, the decision of whether or not to give their child a swine-flu vaccination has been a difficult one. The recall only adds to these parents’ mental debate.
Fortunately, CDC notes on its website that patients who already received the recalled vaccine should be fine—there is no medical danger involved and no further action is necessary. Although I have to wonder how well a vaccine whose potency is less than optimal will work if a vaccinated child is exposed to the virus.
As if the US community isn’t already paranoid enough about the H1N1 swine flu virus and its vaccine, this week, Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group in France, recalled 800,000 prefilled vaccines.
The recall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), didn’t have to do with a safety issue (whew!) but rather, a potency problem. In post-shipping stability tests, a few lots of the vaccine did not reach the pre-specified potency limit. Specifically, three lots that had been distributed “had an antigen content that, while properly filled at the time of manufacturing, was later measured to be below pre-specified limits,” according to the CDC fact sheet. It is common to test for stability after a vaccine’s distribution to see how well the drug maintains its potency. Unfortunately, in this case, these particular lots did not measure up.
To make matters worse, the particular lots recalled were meant for children between the ages of 6 months and 35 months, one of the populations at particular risk for getting the swine flu. For many parents, the decision of whether or not to give their child a swine-flu vaccination has been a difficult one. The recall only adds to these parents’ mental debate.
Fortunately, CDC notes on its website that patients who already received the recalled vaccine should be fine—there is no medical danger involved and no further action is necessary. Although I have to wonder how well a vaccine whose potency is less than optimal will work if a vaccinated child is exposed to the virus.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Mysterious blue lights over Norway
A mysterious spiral of light has appeared in northern Norway one day before President Obama arrives to give his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in Oslo. The spiral has baffled experts who do not believe it is related to the Aurora Borealis. Speculation that it is a rocket launched by the Russian Northern Fleet has been denied by Russian authorities. Similarly the Norwegian military has claimed no knowledge of any rocket launches in the area. There has been speculation that it may be some exotic weapon system, the opening of a space-time portal, or even UFO activity. Obama’s arrival in Norway on December 10 to give his acceptance speech only adds to the mysterious appearance of the lights. Is it a pure coincidence or is it in some way related to Obama’s upcoming speech?
The object appeared on the morning of December 9 and has been photographed and filmed by thousands of Norwegians over a wide area ranging from Finnmark in the country’s north to Trondelang in the south. It is a giant spiral of green-blue light that appears directed towards a mountain. According to observers, a giant light spiral appeared and within seconds covered the entire sky. A green-blue beam of light then shot out from its center. Here is how Totto Eriksen, from Tromso, in northern Norway described it.
I was driving my daughter to school when this light spun and exploded in the sky. We saw it from the Inner Harbour in Tromso. It looked like a rocket that spun around and around - and then went diagonally across the heavens. It looked like the moon was coming over the mountain - but then turned into something totally different. People just stopped and stared on the pier - it was like something from a Hollywood movie.
The entire event lasted between two-three minutes before disappearing. Norway’s leading meteorologists are baffled, with most concluding it is some kind of rocket launch that went awry. Knut Jorgen Roed Odegaard, Norway's most celebrated astronomer, said:
This was seen over an exceptionally large area of the country - in all of north Norway and the Trondelag. My first thought was that it was a fireball meteor - but it lasted far too long. It may have been a missile from Russia - but I can't guarantee that is the answer. I rang the Air Traffic Control tower in Tromse. They said it was over in two minutes. To me, that is far too long for this to be an astronomical phenomenon. This spiral shape is unique. It is definitely not a variation of the aurora borealis - northern lights.
Obama’s December 10 Nobel Prize acceptance speech is expected to focus on international cooperation on the removal of nuclear weapons and promoting diplomatic solutions to global problems. Coming nine days after Obama’s announcement of a 30,000 troop surge for Afghanistan, it is expected that he will show his commitment to international diplomacy and cooperation. He may use the opportunity to launch a bold international initiative to achieve this end.
The appearance of the enormous light spiral in northern Norway may be a sheer coincidence and unrelated to his upcoming speech in Oslo. Alternatively, the mysterious spiral of light may be a sign from an unknown intelligence that Obama’s acceptance speech may be a catalyst for major global changes that lie ahead. With much speculation that the Obama administration is poised to make some kind of announcement concerning extraterrestrial life soon, the light may be sign for him to boldly go where no U.S. President has gone before.
The object appeared on the morning of December 9 and has been photographed and filmed by thousands of Norwegians over a wide area ranging from Finnmark in the country’s north to Trondelang in the south. It is a giant spiral of green-blue light that appears directed towards a mountain. According to observers, a giant light spiral appeared and within seconds covered the entire sky. A green-blue beam of light then shot out from its center. Here is how Totto Eriksen, from Tromso, in northern Norway described it.
I was driving my daughter to school when this light spun and exploded in the sky. We saw it from the Inner Harbour in Tromso. It looked like a rocket that spun around and around - and then went diagonally across the heavens. It looked like the moon was coming over the mountain - but then turned into something totally different. People just stopped and stared on the pier - it was like something from a Hollywood movie.
The entire event lasted between two-three minutes before disappearing. Norway’s leading meteorologists are baffled, with most concluding it is some kind of rocket launch that went awry. Knut Jorgen Roed Odegaard, Norway's most celebrated astronomer, said:
This was seen over an exceptionally large area of the country - in all of north Norway and the Trondelag. My first thought was that it was a fireball meteor - but it lasted far too long. It may have been a missile from Russia - but I can't guarantee that is the answer. I rang the Air Traffic Control tower in Tromse. They said it was over in two minutes. To me, that is far too long for this to be an astronomical phenomenon. This spiral shape is unique. It is definitely not a variation of the aurora borealis - northern lights.
Obama’s December 10 Nobel Prize acceptance speech is expected to focus on international cooperation on the removal of nuclear weapons and promoting diplomatic solutions to global problems. Coming nine days after Obama’s announcement of a 30,000 troop surge for Afghanistan, it is expected that he will show his commitment to international diplomacy and cooperation. He may use the opportunity to launch a bold international initiative to achieve this end.
The appearance of the enormous light spiral in northern Norway may be a sheer coincidence and unrelated to his upcoming speech in Oslo. Alternatively, the mysterious spiral of light may be a sign from an unknown intelligence that Obama’s acceptance speech may be a catalyst for major global changes that lie ahead. With much speculation that the Obama administration is poised to make some kind of announcement concerning extraterrestrial life soon, the light may be sign for him to boldly go where no U.S. President has gone before.
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