Green Cross to bid for WHO-led flu vaccine program

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- Green Cross Co., a South Korean drug firm, said Wednesday it will bid to supply flu vaccines to the World Health Organization (WHO) as it looks to inoculate millions in South America.

According to the company, the Pan American Health Organization, a regional WHO
body, recently allowed the South Korean firm to bid to supply vaccines for its
program. This is the first time a Korean firm will bid to supply flu vaccines to
the WHO, according to Green Cross.
"Time is pressing because we have to provide vaccines by March next year if we
win the bid," said a company official. "But foreign rivals are in the same
situation... we plan to bid for the program."
Shares of Green Cross were trading at 161,000 won (US$132) on the Seoul bourse as
of 10:58 a.m., down 3.01 percent.
Green Cross is also the only South Korean drug firm able to mass produce the
Influenza A (H1N1) flu vaccine.
sam@yna.co.kr
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