Flu vaccines bring 10m euros into drug makers' accounts

Sales of flu vaccines revolved around 2 million units during September 2008-August 2009 period, almost double the level reached in the previous interval, according to the data provided by IMS Health Romania market research company. On the other hand, in terms of value sales halved, to 10.3m euros. “The drop in value came amid this year’s falling prices and narrower distribution margins,” said Corina Ciolan, general manager of IMS Romania. The company specifies the data point to distributor values. The vaccine market, with strong seasonality, is likely to rebound in the following period as the cold season starts. The Health Ministry will start, on 15th of October, a vaccination campaign, with 1.6 million doses to be used. The domestic vaccine market includes companies such as Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Solvay Pharma, but the Cantacuzino Institute also produces vaccines. While on the one hand the flu vaccine market is worth tens of million euros, on the other hand the level of sales of antiviral drugs (used in the treatment of flu) is still low.