LONDON - The British government Wednesday announced that production of a flu vaccine made by US drugs company Chiron would resume at a factory in England after a near five-month suspension.
Britain`s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was lifting the ban at Chiron`s plant in Liverpool, northwest England, the Department of Health said in a statement.
"The suspension of Chiron`s licence for the manufacture of Fluvirin has today been lifted," a statement from the Department of Health confirmed.
"MHRA inspectors have been working closely alongside the company since the manufacturing licence required to produce the vaccine was suspended towards the end of 2004, following problems with the manufacturing plant and process," the statement added.
"The inspectors concluded that satisfactory progress has been made in the manufacturing areas which had previously caused concern."
The ban on production began in early October last year, forcing the United States to find emergency alternative sources of flu vaccines.
Vaccines produced at the plant, which differ year by year according to the virus`s strain, provided almost half the 100 million doses needed each year by the United States.
Chiron is the second-leading flu vaccine manufacturer in the world, behind French pharmaceutical company Aventis, which makes about 45 percent to 50 percent of the world`s supply.
03/02/2005 16:12 GMT