Baxter Receives Marketing Authorization in European Union for VEPACEL Pre-Pandemic Influenza Vaccine

Baxter International Inc.

announced today that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for VEPACEL in all European Union Member States, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. VEPACEL is a pre-pandemic influenza vaccine indicated for active immunization in adults 18 years and older (including immunocompromised and chronically ill patients) against the H5N1 subtype of influenza A (A/Vietnam1203/2004), commonly known as bird or avian flu. Pre-pandemic vaccination provides a level of protection against an emerging highly pathogenic influenza strain prior to an officially-declared pandemic. VEPACEL is manufactured using Baxter's proprietary advanced Vero cell technology.