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

Novartis Vaccines is the world’s fifth-largest vaccines business.  It is the world’s second largest manufacturer of flu vaccines and has important meningococcal, paediatric and travel vaccine franchises.  The company’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).
 

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 greater reliability and reduced production lead time that could be critical in a pandemic.
 

It is also pioneering the use of adjuvants which, tests indicate, improve the effectiveness of influenza vaccines at lower doses, again a significant benefit in the event of a pandemic.
 

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.
 

Novartis Vaccines also has a leadership position in the field of Meningitis and 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.
 

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

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