Press Release: European Medicines Agency prepares for approval of pandemic vaccines

Following the outbreak of novel influenza in Mexico in April 2009 and subsequent spread around the globe, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), together with its partners in the EU Member States, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Directorate for the Quality of medicines and healthcare (EDQM) met with vaccine manufacturers on 30 April 2009. The purpose of the meeting was to share information on the novel influenza virus and discuss regulatory and scientific issues concerning the development and approval of vaccines for use in a pandemic situation.