GSK, Sanofi, and CSL to Boost Bird Flu Vaccine Production

(Reuters) – GSK, Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY), and CSL (OTC:CSLLY) Ltd have secured $72 million from the U.S. government to ramp up production of bird flu vaccines, as announced by a health official during a press briefing on Friday.

This initiative comes in response to a multi-state outbreak affecting livestock and poultry, resulting in human illnesses and the infection of more than 254 herds in 14 states since March, according to government data.

The funds will be utilized for filling vials and pre-filled syringes to ensure that doses are prepared for distribution if needed, stated David Boucher, director of Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The award breakdown includes:
– $37.9 million for CSL
– $23.4 million for Sanofi
– $10.5 million for GSK

This funding will more than double the country’s supply of bird flu vaccines, increasing the total stock of ready-to-use doses to 10 million by the first quarter of 2025.

In addition to that, GSK, Sanofi, and CSL will produce bulk vaccine ingredients tailored to the circulating strains of bird flu, according to Boucher.

Moreover, Australia’s CSL recently secured a $121.4 million contract to expand the U.S. government’s stockpile of bird flu vaccines to 40 million doses.

Neither CSL nor GSK provided an immediate comment to Reuters, and Sanofi referred the inquiry to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a division of HHS that issued the reward.