(Reuters) – GSK, Sanofi (NASDAQ:) and CSL (OTC:) Ltd have been awarded $72 million by the U.S. government to increase production of bird flu vaccines, a health official announced on Friday during a press briefing.
This decision comes in response to a multi-state outbreak affecting livestock and poultry, resulting in human illnesses and impacting over 254 herds in 14 states since March, as per government data.
The allocated funds will be utilized by the companies to prepare vials and pre-filled syringes in anticipation of potential distribution requirements, stated David Boucher, Director of Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The funding breakdown includes $37.9 million for CSL, $23.4 million for Sanofi, and $10.5 million for GSK.
This initiative aims to more than double the country’s supply of bird flu vaccines, increasing the total ready-to-use doses to 10 million by the first quarter of 2025.
GSK, Sanofi, and CSL will also manufacture additional bulk vaccine ingredients tailored to the circulating strains of bird flu, as highlighted by Boucher.
Australia’s CSL recently secured a $121.4 million contract to bolster the U.S. government’s bird flu vaccine stockpile to 40 million doses.
CSL and GSK have not yet responded to a request for comment from Reuters. Sanofi directed inquiries to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a division of HHS responsible for issuing the award.