Smallpox vaccine sales leap
The pharmaceuticals company, Berna Biotech, has seen sales of its smallpox vaccine leap on fears that terrorists could use the disease as a biological weapon.
Berna Biotech said in a statement on Monday that it had generated SFr150 million ($92 million) in one-off sales of the vaccine. Sales of its remaining stocks could bring in a further SFr50 to SFr70 million.
The figures almost match the company’s overall sales total for last year.
It said it had signed contracts with several governments wanting to build up stocks of the Lancy-Vacina vaccine and was in negotiations with others.
Berna Biotech employs about 600 people and had sales in 2000 of about SFr200 million.
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