Domestic influenza vaccine production in Mexico: a state-owned and a multinational company working together for public health.

The Mexican Government developed a plan in 2004 for pandemic influenza preparedness that included local production of influenza vaccine. To achieve this, an agreement was concluded between Birmex - a state-owned vaccine manufacturer - and sanofi pasteur, a leading developer of vaccine technology. Under this agreement, sanofi pasteur will establish a facility in Mexico to produce antigen for up to 30 million doses of egg-based seasonal vaccine per year, and Birmex will build a facility to formulate, fill and package the inactivated split-virion influenza vaccine. As at November 2010, the sanofi pasteur facility has been completed and the Birmex plant is under construction. Most of the critical equipment has been purchased and is in the process of validation. In addition to intensive support from sanofi pasteur for the transfer of the technology, the project is supported by the Mexican Ministry of Health, complemented by Birmex's own budget and grants from the WHO developing country influenza technology transfer project.