EU Commission OKs Baxter Avian flu vaccine Vepacel; drops GSK probe

US drugmaker Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) says that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for its Avian flu vaccine Vepacel in all European Union member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Vepacel is a pre-pandemic influenza vaccine indicated for active immunization in adults 18 years and older (including immunocompromized and chronically ill patients) against the H5N1 subtype of influenza A (A/Vietnam1203/2004), commonly known as bird or avian flu. Pre-pandemic vaccination provides a level of protection against an emerging highly pathogenic influenza strain prior to an officially-declared pandemic, the company noted. Vepacel is manufactured using Baxter's proprietary advanced Vero cell technology.