Basel, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Pharmaceutical giant Novartis saw net sales grow 8 percent in local currencies, but slip 2 percent in US dollars in the first six months of 2009. Exchange rates had  significant impact on profits, which fell by 12 percent to CHF4.32 billion, compared to the same period in 2008. Company CEO Daniel Vasella notes in the company’s press release on results that the company expects to “continue record underlying results in constant currencies.”

Novartis  has been working to test pandemic A/H1N1 vaccines in order to speed up production. The World Health Organization’s pandemic  group of experts said earlier this week that there could be a shortage of vaccines. “We are advancing well in our efforts to rapidly produce and commercialize a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, with clinical trials set to begin in July,” Vasella says.

“Novartis has started large-scale antigen production at all sites in Europe, using both traditional egg-based manufacturing as well as its faster cell-based vaccine production capacity to maximize the potential vaccine supply. Using cell-culture technology, first batches have been successfully produced for both the wild virus strain and the ‘reassortant seed’ modified virus recommended by the WHO and health authorities,” according to a press release.

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