Flu information resource

The flu is more than a matter of aches and pains and a few lost days of work. For many people, influenza can be life-threatening.

We're a global leader in creating and making vaccines and anti-viral medications that prevent or treat the flu. Recently we expanded our ability to manufacture vaccines by acquiring a new facility in Canada and doubling production at our European facility. We're also working on new ways of making existing flu vaccines more effective, and have increased production of our anti-viral drug to treat flu in the event of a major outbreak.

• January 8, 2008: GlaxoSmithKline announces online ordering of Fluarix® (influenza virus vaccine) for 2008-2009 flu season
• September 13, 2007: GlaxoSmithKline increases US seasonal flu vaccine shipments
• August 3, 2007: GlaxoSmithKline receives new HHS order for H5N1 bulk antigen
• June 13, 2007: GlaxoSmithKline to make unprecedented vaccine donation to WHO pandemic flu stockpile
• May 2, 2007: GlaxoSmithKline supports World Health Organization efforts to strengthen global pandemic preparedness plans
• March 5, 2007: New studies indicate GSK's pre-pandemic influenza vaccine can protect against different strains of H5N1
• January 23, 2007: GSK announced that the file for their proprietary adjuvanted split antigen pre-pandemic vaccine has been accepted for review by the CHMP.
• January 4, 2007: GSK entered into an APA with the Danish government to supply its split candidate pandemic antigen and proprietary adjuvant once a pandemic has been declared.
• January 2007: GSK begins supplying its antiviral to the U.S. government and begins working with private-sector businesses and other organizations as part of their business continuity planning.
• January 2007: GSK receives from the HHS a $63.3 million contract to develop antigen-sparing H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccines.
• December 15, 2006: GSK announces that its alum-adjuvanted whole virus candidate pandemic vaccine; received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use.
• November 2006: GSK received a $40 million initial order for bulk H5N1 antigen from HHS.
• October 18, 2006: GSK signs contracts with Switzerland to supply its split pre-pandemic antigen and proprietary adjuvant for stockpiling, in addition to an Advanced Purchase Agreement (APA) for its pandemic vaccine in the event a pandemic is declared.
• September 2006: GSK reached an agreement with the Simcere Pharmaceutical Group of Nanjing, China, granting the right to manufacture and sell the anti-viral influenza treatment zanamivir in China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and all Least Developed Countries.
• July 2006: Clinical studies announced by GSK showed promising preliminary results on the potential antigen-sparing properties of its candidate pre-pandemic influenza vaccine.
• May 2006: GSK received an HHS contract worth $274 million to develop cell-culture technology to speed the development of new cell culture-based seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines, and to scale-up cell culture manufacturing capability at GSK's Marietta, PA site.
• 2005: GSK made three important acquisitions in North America: a vaccine manufacturing site in Marietta for cell-culture-based flu vaccines and secondary operations; Corixa Corporation, for its work in developing innovative adjuvants designed to stimulate immunity; and ID Biomedical, which offered a significant increase in flu vaccine manufacturing capacity to help address both seasonal and pandemic influenza threats.

Would you like to find out more information about Relenza and the flu? We might be able to help.

The best prevention for the flu is to know the facts and to get vaccinated.