SOLVAY TO DISTRIBUTE NEW BERNA VACCINE

Belgian drug and chemical group Solvay said on Tuesday it would distribute in the Americas a vaccine developed by Berna Biotech for infection prevention among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Swiss pharmaceuticals firm Berna is developing the Aerugen vaccine for the prevention of pseudomonas aeruginosa, an often fatal bacterial infection of the lungs for CF patients. The vaccine has orphan drug status in the United States, Europe and Switzerland, meaning it is offered a period of market exclusivity in the disease area for 7 years in the United States and 10 years in Europe.

Metro Toronto (http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_national.asp?id=87123)