Chiron to Testify to Congress on Influenza Vaccine
13 February 2004 - 12:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Chiron to Testify to Congress on Influenza Vaccine President and
CEO Howard Pien to Appear at U.S. House of Representatives
Government Reform Committee Hearing Today EMERYVILLE, Calif., Feb.
12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chiron Corporation today announced
that president and chief executive officer Howard Pien will appear
before the U.S. House of Representatives Government Reform
Committee in Washington, D.C., today as part of an oversight
hearing to examine this year's influenza season and pandemic
preparedness. Chiron will highlight the importance of strong
cooperation between health agencies and private sector companies at
all levels. "Chiron is committed to meeting demand for flu vaccine
in the United States, today and tomorrow," said Mr. Pien.
"Strengthening our public health infrastructure -- to increase
immunization rates in the inter-pandemic years -- is the single
most important initiative today to prepare for tomorrow's
pandemic." Today's hearing will take place immediately following
the committee's 10 a.m. EST business meeting. Mr. Pien's testimony
will follow those of Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of
the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and
other witnesses. In a written statement submitted to the committee,
Mr. Pien discussed Chiron's commitment to expanding flu vaccine
production. Chiron projects that it will produce approximately 50
million doses of Fluvirin(R) flu vaccine in 2004, the vast majority
of which will be destined for the United States. If sufficient
demand for influenza vaccine exists, Chiron plans to increase its
production capacity and supply of influenza vaccine to the United
States even further in subsequent seasons. Mr. Pien also discussed
Chiron's investment in the development of a cell culture-based flu
vaccine and the company's pandemic preparedness plans. The
cell-culture vaccine production process offers potential advantages
to current egg-based vaccines, including flexibility, and could
offer significant benefits in a flu pandemic situation. Chiron's
influenza cell-culture research program has completed Phase II
clinical trials in Europe. "Chiron is investing in bringing
innovation to the U.S. market," said Mr. Pien. "This month we plan
to file an IND application for our cell-culture flu vaccine, which
is viewed as the best way to defend against a possible future
pandemic." In his discussion of the 2003-2004 flu season, Mr. Pien
noted that the estimated 83 million Americans immunized represented
the highest immunization rate ever for flu, a milestone in public
health. He advocated measures to minimize the burden of disease
caused by the annual flu epidemic, including an adequate supply of
flu vaccine in non-pandemic seasons, appropriate mechanisms to
ensure delivery of the vaccine to target populations, and high
public awareness of the need for immunization to ensure increased
immunization. Chiron produced 38 million doses of Fluvirin for U.S.
distribution for the 2003-2004 flu season, approximately 50 percent
more than in the previous flu season. In total for the 2003-2004
flu season, Chiron produced 75 million doses of its four brands of
flu vaccine for the global market,with production in Liverpool,
United Kingdom; Marburg, Germany; and Siena and Rosia, Italy. About
10 to 20 percent of the U.S. population contracts flu each year.
Vaccination not only decreases the risk of illness for the vaccine
recipient but also helps prevent the spread of the flu virus and
limits its role in the potential development of life-threatening
complications. In an average year in the United States, flu kills
36,000 people, primarily in the over-65 population, and
hospitalizes 114,000 people. About Flu and Chiron's Flu Vaccines
Influenza (flu), a contagious disease caused by the influenza
virus, affects the respiratory tract, often resulting in symptoms
in the nose, throat and lungs, as well as fever, headache,
tiredness and body aches. It can also lead to complications such as
pneumonia, bronchitis, or sinus and ear infections or exacerbate
chronic conditions. In the Northern Hemisphere, flu season
typically begins in November and peaks between December and March.
Flu vaccination provides protection from flu within about two weeks
of administration and may last for as long as a year. The vaccine
protects up to 80 percent of vaccinated people from contracting
flu, and vaccinated people who do contract flu generally develop
milder cases than unvaccinated people. Flu vaccines, the majority
of which are made from inactivated (killed) flu strains, are
updated each year to address changes in the viruses. People who are
allergic to eggs, who have had a severe reaction to a flushot in
the past, or who have previously developed Guillain-Barre syndrome
in the six weeks after receiving a flu vaccination should consult
their doctors before receiving flu vaccination. Chiron Vaccines is
the world's second-largest flu vaccines company, with four leading
brands. Fluvirin(R) is a triple-antigen flu vaccine, approved for
sale in more than two dozen countries including the United States,
the United Kingdom, and a number of countries in Europe and the
Southern Hemisphere. Outside the United States, Chiron Vaccines
markets Agrippal(R) S1, Begrivac(TM) and Fluad(R) flu vaccines.
About Chiron Chiron Corporation, headquartered in Emeryville,
California, is a global pharmaceutical company that leverages a
diverse business model to develop and commercialize high-value
products that make a difference in people's lives. The company has
a strategic focus on cancer and infectious disease. Chiron applies
its advanced understanding of the biology of cancer and infectious
disease to develop products from its platforms in proteins, small
molecules and vaccines. The company commercializes its products
through three business units: BioPharmaceuticals, Vaccines and
Blood Testing. For more information about Chiron, visit the
company's website at http://www.chiron.com/. This news release
contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding
product development initiatives, capital investments, sales growth
and new product marketing that involve risks and uncertainties
andare subject to change. A full discussion of the company's
operations and financial condition, including factors that may
affect its business and future prospects, is contained in documents
the company has filed with the SEC, including the form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 2003, and the form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2002, and will be contained in all subsequent
periodic filings made with the SEC. These documents identify
important factors that could cause the company's actualperformance
to differ from current expectations, including product development
activities such as clinical trials, manufacturing capabilities,
intellectual property protections and defenses, stock-price and
interest-rate volatility, and marketing effectiveness. In
particular, there can be no assurance that Chiron will increase
sales of existing products, successfully develop and receive
approval to market new products, or achieve market acceptance for
such new products. Consistent with SEC Regulation FD, we do not
undertake an obligation to update the forward-looking information
we are giving today. NOTE: Fluvirin, Agrippal, Begrivac and Fluad
are trademarks of Chiron Corporation. DATASOURCE: Chiron
Corporation CONTACT: Chiron Corporate Communications & Investor
Relations, media, +1-510-923-6500, or investors, +1-510-923-2300
Web site: http://www.chiron.com/
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