Hemispherx, Biken Expands Production Capacity For Swine Flu Vaccines

Philadelphia-based Hemispherx has announced that its collaborative influenza vaccine development partner in Japan, Biken, has decided to expand its Flu production capacity.

“Biken decided to expand its manufacturing facilities in Kanonji City. Biken will invest a total of 35 billion Yen ($350 million) expecting to complete in 2013. Manufacturing capacities will be scaled up by 5 times, so as to be ready to manufacture Swine/Avian Flu vaccine for 60 million people within 6 months. New facilities will focus on the cell culture technology instead of the current poultry egg culture,” said the company.

Hemispherx is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacture and clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of viral and immune-based disorders. Hemispherx’s flagship products include Alferon N Injection and the experimental immunotherapeutics/antivirals Ampligen and Oragens.