HHS Boosts National Capacity to Produce Pandemic Flu Vaccine

New fill and finish manufacturing network strengthens pandemic readiness

To boost the nation’s ability to manufacture influenza vaccine quickly in a pandemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has established a fill and finish manufacturing network, which will cover the final steps in the vaccine manufacturing process. Led by HHS, the network supplements the capacity that influenza vaccine manufacturers currently have, potentially increasing national capacity to produce influenza vaccine by 20%.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), in HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, awarded contracts to four U.S. companies that will make up the network. The contracts, totaling approximately $39.8 million, have been awarded to Cook Pharmica of Bloomington, Indiana, JHP Pharmaceuticals of Parsippany, New Jersey, DSM Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of Greenville, North Carolina., and Nanotherapeutics of Alachua, Florida.

“No longer will fill and finish manufacturing be the limiting factor in making pandemic influenza vaccines or other products available in a public health emergency,” said BARDA Director Robin Robinson, Ph.D. “The fill and finish manufacturing network will be an integral part of other national assets that address the need for timely manufacturing of medical countermeasures to respond to man-made and natural threats.”

Each company in the network will partner with a pandemic influenza vaccine manufacturer to transfer the fill and finish technology into its existing facilities to provide surge capacity for pandemic response. The expanded fill and finish manufacturing network also could provide these core services for manufacturers of drugs and vaccines intended to protect public health against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

Click here for the latest on influenza including pandemic flu.