Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics is a division of Novartis, focused on the development of preventive treatments. The division has two business units: Vaccines and Diagnostics, the latter being the blood testing and molecular diagnostics unit.
Novartis Vaccines is the world’s fifth-largest vaccines business. 800 million doses of vaccine are produced annually by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics and are shipped to 85 countries, where their use helps protect entire societies from some of the most terrible diseases in the world. Worldwide, it is a leading supplier of flu vaccines and has important meningococcal, paediatric and travel vaccine franchises. The UK company’s portfolio of products includes vaccines for influenza, meningococcus A, C, W and Y, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid and diptheria.
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.
Other new pipeline products include potential vaccines for Group B streptococcus (GBS) and HIV.
Working in partnership
Novartis Vaccines is a partner in global pandemic preparedness activities and has produced stocks of Avian and swine 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 vaccine development and has contributed to the reduction by some 87% of the incidence of Meningitis C in the UK. A combination vaccine to combat the A, C, W and Y strains has recently been launched and development activity is underway on a vaccine to combat the B strain, which causes the majority of meningococcal infections in the United Kingdom and Europe.
In the UK Novartis Vaccines has commercial offices in Frimley and a major influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in Liverpool.
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UK Locations
Novartis has a significant presence across the UK with nine sites ranging from marketing to manufacturing operations.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are designed to find better ways to treat or prevent diseases.
Find out more about ongoing clinical trials or view the results of past trials here
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