Novartis AG expects a vaccine for the H1N1 virus to be available by the autumn after producing the first batch ahead of schedule.
The virus, commonly known as swine flu, was declared the first global pandemic of the 21st Century by the World Health Organisation yesterday.
The Swiss drugmaker has confirmed it will start clinical trials on the vaccine next month.
Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline and Solvay all obtained the influenza A (H1N1) seed virus in recent weeks, aiming to have a vaccine ready ahead of the flu season in the northern hemisphere.
Novartis said in a statement first results with the H1N1 wild type strain showed it was quicker to make the vaccine through cell-based than through egg-based production.
A spokesman for the firm said he was unsure if any other company had completed the first cycle of the production process, and said Novartis should have the vaccine ready in September or October.
It hoped to be able to produce millions of doses per week.
The H1N1 strain has spread widely, with 28,774 infections confirmed in 74 countries to date, including 144 deaths, according to the WHO's latest tally.
