Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics

Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics is a division of Novartis, focused on the development of preventative treatments. The division has two business units: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, the blood testing and molecular diagnostics unit.

Novartis Vaccines is the world’s fifth-largest vaccines business and is a leading supplier of flu vaccines.  It has important meningococcal, paediatric and travel vaccine franchises. The division’s portfolio of products includes vaccines for:

Influenza, meningococcus C, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, haemophilus influenzae B (Hib), polio, mumps, measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough).

The future

An industry leader for more than 20 years, Novartis Vaccines (formerly Chiron) has made groundbreaking scientific discoveries and created revolutionary products that are improving human health worldwide.

Advances in genetic engineering technology now make it possible to improve conventional vaccines and develop new DNA and therapeutic vaccines against currently non-preventable diseases. Here Novartis Vaccines is a global leader, challenging existing ideas and exploring new technologies.

Among the breakthroughs is the development of a cell-culture influenza vaccine manufacturing process which promises many advantages over egg-based production, including reduced production lead time.

It is also a pioneer in the use of adjuvants (a substance that is added to a vaccine to improve the immune response so that less vaccine is needed to provide protection) which, tests indicate, improve the effectiveness of influenza vaccines at lower doses, a significant benefit in the event of a pandemic.

Other new pipeline products include vaccines for Hepatitis C and HIV.

Working in partnership

Novartis Vaccines is a partner in global pandemic preparedness activities and has produced stocks of Avian strains of influenza vaccine for clinical trials and various Governments’ stockpiles.  In addition, we supply Diagnostics to the UK Government for blood testing.

Meningitis prevention

Novartis Vaccines also has a leadership position in the field of Meningitis and has contributed to the reduction by some 87% of the incidence of Meningitis C in the UK. Development activity is underway on a combination vaccine to combat the A, C, W and Y strains and a new vaccine to combat the B strain, which causes the majority of meningococcal infections in Europe.

In the UK Novartis Vaccines has commercial offices in Frimley and a major influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in Liverpool.

Need more information?

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Visit the Novartis Vaccines website

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