Sanofi Pasteur starts testing swine flu vaccine

[August 07, 2009]  LONDON (AP) -- French drugmaker Sanofi Pasteur says it has started human trials of its swine flu vaccine in about 2,000 people in the United States.

Sanofi Pasteur says it began the clinical trials on Thursday to test the vaccine's safety and determine how many doses are needed to protect people from swine flu.

The company says in a statement Friday that it has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for fast-track licensing for the vaccine, which is expected to be on the market later this year.

Sanofi Pasteur makes about 40 percent of the world's flu vaccines.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says Northern Hemisphere countries should get a vaccine first along with Southern Hemisphere doctors and nurses.

[Associated Press]

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