Swine flu vaccine produced

SWISS pharmaceuticals company Novartis AG said yesterday it has successfully produced a first batch of swine flu vaccine weeks ahead of expectations.

The vaccine was made in cells, rather than grown in eggs as is usually the case with vaccines, the company said.

The announcement comes a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared swine flu, also known as A (H1N1), a pandemic. The move indicates that a global outbreak is underway. WHO says drugmakers will likely have vaccines approved and ready for sale after September.