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| Glaxo to market bird flu vaccine | Glaxo to market bird flu vaccine |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| UK drugs firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has won European Union approval for its vaccine designed to protect people against the H5N1 strain of bird flu. | UK drugs firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has won European Union approval for its vaccine designed to protect people against the H5N1 strain of bird flu. |
| The ruling makes Prepandrix the first vaccine to receive a licence for use in the 27-member region. | The ruling makes Prepandrix the first vaccine to receive a licence for use in the 27-member region. |
| Other governments, including the US and Switzerland, have already started stockpiling the vaccine. | Other governments, including the US and Switzerland, have already started stockpiling the vaccine. |
| It is feared that the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form that could be spread between humans, killing millions. | It is feared that the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form that could be spread between humans, killing millions. |
| Sales opportunity | Sales opportunity |
| Since 2003, the virus has been circulating in a number of distinct forms in Asia, Europe and Africa. | Since 2003, the virus has been circulating in a number of distinct forms in Asia, Europe and Africa. |
| GSK has said that its Prepandrix vaccine has worked effectively against these different variants. | GSK has said that its Prepandrix vaccine has worked effectively against these different variants. |
| "This vaccine marks a significant step in the world's ability to cope with an influenza pandemic," said GSK chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier. | "This vaccine marks a significant step in the world's ability to cope with an influenza pandemic," said GSK chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier. |
| Other drug firms, including the French drug company Sanofi Aventis and Swiss Novartis, have also been working on bird flu vaccines, which analysts say could be worth $1bn in revenue for the firms. | Other drug firms, including the French drug company Sanofi Aventis and Swiss Novartis, have also been working on bird flu vaccines, which analysts say could be worth $1bn in revenue for the firms. |
| Up until now, H5N1 has remained primarily a virus affecting birds, but scientists fear it is the most likely next global pandemic in humans. | Up until now, H5N1 has remained primarily a virus affecting birds, but scientists fear it is the most likely next global pandemic in humans. |