MARLEY SEAMAN AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to spend $884 million to buy two ingredients needed for a potential swine flu vaccine in case the 2009 version of the virus returns. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the department is spending hundreds of millions to buy more of a swine flu antigen, or the part of a vaccine that creates an immune system response, and an adjuvant, which can boost that immune response. The spending is in addition to the $1 billion committed by Sebelius for the development and testing of a vaccine in May. The ingredients will be part of a stockpile of the vaccine in case a vaccination campaign becomes necessary, the department said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there have been more than 37,000 swine flu cases in the U.S., including 211 deaths, since the illness was identified this spring. Several drug developers are working on a vaccine for the 2009 swine flu, and the Department of Health and Human Services aims to have the vaccine ready by October, when the normal flu season starts. The orders will be added to existing contracts with some of the world’s largest drugmakers. The department said $690.1 million of the $884 million will go to Novartis AG, a Swiss company, which will deliver bulk vaccine antigen and bulk oil and water adjuvant. GlaxoSmithKline PLC of London will get $71.4 million for bulk oil and water adjuvant. Sanofi Pasteur, a part of French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis, will receive $61.4 million for bulk vaccine antigen, and the MedImmune unit AstraZeneca PLC of Britain will be paid $61.2 million for bulk virus concentrate. The contracts date to 2004 as part of a strategy to fight a flu pandemic.
