CSL Limited, An Australian pharmaceutical company, is planning to enter the flu vaccine market in 2007. The company is planning to file for regualtory approval early next year, in time for the flu season in fall 2007 and spring 2008.

CSL is confident that there is room for them in the marketplace, considering that the other big pharma companies such as Sanofi pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline and Chiron are revving up their productions. MedImmune even had a nasal spray version of the flu vaccine developed.

McNamee [CSL's chief executive said] said CSL provides geographical and seasonal diversity as a supplier - Australia's flu season peaks in July and August, compared with January and February for the U.S. - which gives the company leverage when another manufacturer experiences production problems.

CSL also is testing a prototype for a bird flu vaccine that could be ready within two years.

The public can just benefit from more companies producing flu vaccines (or any other product for that matter), right?

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