With swine flu spreading, individuals and governments are ordering more flu drugs and vaccines.
From Julie Steenhuysen, Reuters:
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The effects of swine flu are already showing up in higher profits for makers of vaccines and antiviral drugs as the first pandemic of the 21st century makes its way onto corporate bottom lines.
Vaccine and flu drug orders lifted drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline to a better-than expected quarterly profit, the company said on Wednesday. Sales of the antiviral drug Relenza jumped nearly 2,000 percent compared to a year ago as governments stocked up to fight the pandemic. Glaxo predicts flu vaccine sales will spur second-half strength.
Gilead Sciences Inc said on Tuesday second quarter royalty and contract revenue rose 29 percent to nearly $79 million, a figure that largely reflects royalty revenue from Roche Holding AG's sales of the Tamiflu flu drug.
