Taiwan firm plans mass production of bird flu vaccine from June

February 21, 2014

TAIPEI - A Taiwan-made vaccine for the H7N9 strain of avian flu is expected to go into mass production in June after completing human trials, according to Taichung-based Adimmune Corp., Taiwan’s only human vaccine producer.

The company said it has completed animal trials and will begin a second phase of human trials for its H7N9 vaccine in March.

One of the world's first GMP vaccine manufacturers to engage in research and development of a vaccine for H7N9, the company said it will be able to produce three million doses of the vaccine monthly once mass-production has begun.

According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, a total of 353 confirmed H7N9 cases have been reported in China and Hong Kong since March 2013, including two exported to Taiwan. There were 78 fatalities in the year (ATI).