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Biotech News Government news Regular news from state and federal governments. |
Commonwealth Government fast track flu vaccine
July 22 – The Commonwealth Government will provide CSL with AU$4.93 million to fast track production of a pandemic influenza vaccine targeting the current H5N1 avian influenza strain. The funds enable CSL to expand current manufacturing capacities and to begin clinical trials of a prototype vaccine in September 2005 with a proposed registration date of August 2006. The funding is in addition to AU$23.2 million provided to establish an independent World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on influenza.
[Source: Federal Department of Health and Ageing]
Pfizer's Lipitor to remain at current price
July 20 – The Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, has accepted the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee's recommendation that atorvastatin (Pfizer Inc's product, Lipitor®), is more effective at lowering cholesterol than simvastatin, and therefore warrants a higher price for PBS subsidy. As a result, Lipitor® will not be affected by the 12.5 per cent price reduction that will affect other brands of cholesterol lowering medicines when the new generic brands of simvastatin are listed on the PBS from 1 August 2005. Almost one million Australians are prescribed Lipitor® to help manage their cholesterol levels.
[Source: Media Release]
