HONG KONG - Global vaccine makers are ready to mass-produce vaccines for H1N1 as soon as health authorities need, says the head of the global association that represents multinational vaccine makers

HONG KONG - Global vaccine makers are ready to mass-produce vaccines for H1N1 as soon as health authorities need, says the head of the global association that represents multinational vaccine makers

China's health and relevant authorities are gearing up to tackle the rapidly spreading swine flu. Besides stockpiling Roche's Tamiflu and GSK's Relenza, the country is producing the drugs locally. During the 2005 bird flu outbreak, Roche and GSK authorized Shanghai Pharmaceutical and Guangdong Oriental Sunshine Pharmaceuticals to manufacture their drugs, and Simcere to localize the production. With an annual output of 200 million Tamiflu tablets, Guangdong Oriental Sunshine has the largest production capability worldwide and has received purchase orders from provincial governments such as Guangdong, Hubei and Anhui. Shanghai Pharmaceutical said it will start production upon receiving orders. Meanwhile, Simcere is planning to ask China's State FDA to fast-track the approval for its clinical trial, which was suspended when the avian outbreak did not occur. (Click here for more - Chinese language)