Company receives license for new meningococcal B vaccine for New Zealand.

2004 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Chiron Corp. (CHIR) has received a license for its new meningococcal B vaccine for New Zealand, MeNZB.

Chiron developed the vaccine, in close collaboration with the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, to protect against the specific meningococcal B strain responsible for a 13-year epidemic in the country. Prior to the New Zealand regulatory authorities issuing the license, no other vaccine was available to protect against this strain of meningococcal B disease.

"Approval from the New Zealand authorities is the final milestone before roll-out of this important vaccine," said John Lambert, president, Chiron Vaccines. "Vaccination represents the best chance of ending the meningococcal B epidemic that has struck New Zealand for more than a decade, affecting in excess of 5000 people and leaving hundreds dead or permanently disabled.

"Through the hard work of the entire multinational team, we have developed, tested, scaled-up, manufactured, and achieved regulatory approval for this New Zealand strain vaccine in just 3 years, a fraction of the time usually required. This accomplishment builds on Chiron's leadership position in the meningococcal field, established through the contribution of our Menjugate vaccine to the meningococcal C eradication campaign in the United Kingdom."

Since the signing of the ...