CSL Biotherapies, a King of Prussia, Penn.-based subsidiary of CSL Limited, a manufacturers of influenza vaccines, has been awarded a contract by the HHS to supply pre-pandemic and pandemic vaccine antigens and related services to the U.S. national stockpile.

The U.S. government may request CSL Biotherapies to manufacture and store bulk antigen that can be used against influenza strains with pandemic potential. The company may also be called upon to develop working virus 'seeds' for other manufacturers and to formulate, fill and finish bulk stored antigen.

Funding for the CSL Biotherapies contract is provided solely by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ office of the assistant secretary for preparedness and response, biomedical advanced R&D authority. The contract has a maximum potential value of $1.5 billion if all optional activities are exercised over the duration of the contract.

"We are very pleased to again be working with the U.S. government on its pandemic preparedness efforts," said Dr. John Anderson, senior vice president of CSL Biotherapies. "CSL Biotherapies is committed to helping to protect the American public against the potential impact of an influenza pandemic. We are proud to contribute our 45 years of successful influenza vaccine manufacturing experience to the U.S. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza."