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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Flu treatment output 'to triple' | Flu treatment output 'to triple' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline says it expects to triple capacity of its flu treatment Relenza to 190 million treatments per year. | Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline says it expects to triple capacity of its flu treatment Relenza to 190 million treatments per year. |
| Glaxo also said it had received contracts for 195 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine for swine flu, adding that it was on track to meet the orders. | Glaxo also said it had received contracts for 195 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine for swine flu, adding that it was on track to meet the orders. |
| It said it was involved in continuing talks with more than 50 governments to supply pandemic products. | It said it was involved in continuing talks with more than 50 governments to supply pandemic products. |
| Glaxo said pre-tax profits in the three months to 30 June fell 6% to £2.1bn. | Glaxo said pre-tax profits in the three months to 30 June fell 6% to £2.1bn. |
| Group turnover during the quarter was down 2% to £6.7bn. | Group turnover during the quarter was down 2% to £6.7bn. |
| Increasing production | Increasing production |
| Glaxo said its performance had been boosted by sales of Relenza, "reflecting continued orders from governments across the world for pandemic stock-piling". | Glaxo said its performance had been boosted by sales of Relenza, "reflecting continued orders from governments across the world for pandemic stock-piling". |
| Sales of the treatment were £60m in the quarter, compared with £3m in the same period a year ago. | Sales of the treatment were £60m in the quarter, compared with £3m in the same period a year ago. |
| Since the outbreak of swine flu, Glaxo said it had committed to increasing production levels of Relenza and effectively developing a new H1N1 vaccine. | Since the outbreak of swine flu, Glaxo said it had committed to increasing production levels of Relenza and effectively developing a new H1N1 vaccine. |
| Shipments of the vaccine are expected in the second half of 2009 and early 2010. | Shipments of the vaccine are expected in the second half of 2009 and early 2010. |
| Price balance | |
| Chief executive Andrew Witty denied accusations that the firm was profiteering from the demand for the swine flu drug. | |
| He told the BBC that the firm had invested up to $2.5bn (£1.5bn) in the past three years to ensure that it could meet the government's demand for the drug. | |
| And Mr Witty added that the firm was not charging more than it did for other seasonal flu drugs. | |
| It was reported that the firm was charging the NHS £6 for each dose of Relenza, which cost it £1, but the company said this was "wrong". | |
| Mr Witty would not be drawn on the costs of manufacturing the drug, but said typically the production cost was about 25% of the sale price. | |
| "We are trying to strike a balance between society and our shareholders, who want to see a return on the risks we take." |