On Apr. 1, 2005, Sanofi pasteur was awarded a five-year $97 million contract from the U.S. Department  of Health and Human Services (HHS) to speed the production process for new cell culture influenza vaccines in the U.S. and the design of a U.S.-based cell-culture vaccine manufacturing facility. Sanofi pasteur conducted the work at its Swiftwater, PA, and Marcy L’Etoile, France, sites to support this critical project.

HHS cited several advantages of using cell-culture technology to make flu vaccines. Viruses don’t need to be adapted to grow in eggs, and manufacturers can freeze cells in advance and then thaw and grow them in large volumes in the event of a shortage or pandemic.

Also, the method is safe from certain risks associated with egg-based production, such as the chance of eggs being contaminated by various poultry diseases. Finally, cell-based vaccines could be used by people who can’t receive the currently licensed vaccines because they are allergic to eggs.