November 17, 2004

 

SOLVAY AND PETROVAX COMBINE GROUND BREAKING SKILLS TO PRODUCE NEW FLU VACCINES IN RUSSIA

Solvay Pharmaceuticals cell line to feed Petrovax production unit in Moscow

SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS and PETROVAX PHARM announce today the signing of a contract to co-operate on the construction of a facility which will produce new generation flu vaccines near Moscow. PETROVAX will own and operate the new factory, which is expected to come on stream in 2006. The production will combine antigens originating from SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS’ new cell culture technology in Weesp, the Netherlands, with polyoxidonium (PO), an immune adjuvant developed and patented by the founders of PETROVAX. Solvay’s new cell-derived antigen line is scheduled to start production in 2005; supply to Petrovax will be on a commercial basis. This new vaccine is intended for the Russian and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) markets.

The two companies have also agreed to co-operate on research and development projects intended to result in next generation vaccines combining SOLVAY’s and PETROVAX’s technologies.

SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS has experience of manufacturing influenza vaccines in modern facilities in the Netherlands working to international good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards. It will contribute project implementation and management support during the construction of the new factory in Russia.

“We are proud of this alliance, which combines the achievements of Russian scientific research with the highest standards in manufacturing expertise and the most recent technologies developed by Solvay,” said Sjirk Kok, Head of, SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS’ Influenza business. “We expect that this agreement will further enhance our presence in Russia, which is already developing very well,” he added.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will grant a long term loan of EUR 15 million to PETROVAX for the construction of the new facility.

PETROVAX PHARM was founded in 2000 by researchers from the Institute of Immunology in Moscow who developed and patented polyoxidonium, an adjuvant which enhances the efficiency of viral vaccines.

SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS is the pharmaceuticals business arm of SOLVAY. It is a research driven pharmaceutical company that seeks to fulfil carefully selected, unmet medical needs in the therapeutic areas of cardiology, gastroenterology, mental health and gynecology/andrology. SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS employs more than 7500 people worldwide. For more information, visit solvaypharmaceuticals.com.
SOLVAY is an international chemicals and pharmaceuticals group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs more than 30000 people in 50 countries. In 2003 consolidated sales amounted to EUR 7.6 billion generated by its three activity sectors: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. SOLVAY is listed on the Euronext 100 index of top European companies. Details are available at www.solvay.com.

For further information please contact :

Martial Tardy , Corporate Press Officer
SOLVAY S.A.
Tel: 32 2 509 72 30
Fax: 32 2 509 72 40
E-mail : martial.tardy@solvay.com
Roger Bickerstaffe , Head of Pharmaceutical Communications
Solvay Pharmaceuticals
Tel: +31 (0) 294 477 242
Fax: +31 (0) 294 477 112
E-mail : roger.bickerstaffe@solvay.com

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