EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Computer Sciences Corporation today announced that DVC LLC, a CSC company, has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness to develop seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines in support of the establishment of a diversified influenza manufacturing industry. The five-year agreement is valued at $242.5 million.
Under terms of the contract, DVC will lead a collaborative effort with Baxter Healthcare Corporation to develop cell-culture-derived influenza vaccines and pursue U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure of two influenza vaccine candidates: a split virus vaccine for seasonal influenza and a modified whole virus vaccine for pandemic influenza. The pandemic vaccine candidate that is being developed under this contract will be designed to protect against H5N1 avian influenza. DVC will manage the project and clinical trials from its facility in Frederick, Md. Baxter will manufacture the vaccines and serve as the FDA license-holder.
“Our team is well qualified to perform advanced development of safe and effective influenza vaccines to address this urgent public health need,” said Jim Sheaffer, president of CSC’s Federal Sector business unit. “CSC recognizes the importance of the DHHS’ mission to protect the U.S. population from public health threats, and we have the experience to deliver results in line with crucial DHHS goals.”
“We are very pleased that the U.S. government has chosen DVC and Baxter to pursue this important program,” said Joy Amundson, corporate vice president and president of Baxter’s Bioscience business. “The combination of Baxter’s vaccines technology and manufacturing capabilities with DVC’s experience with government vaccine programs establishes an experienced team to manage this important program.”
The DHHS is the U.S. government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
DVC is a biodefense company dedicated to the development and licensure of safe and effective biological products. DVC is part of CSC’s Enforcement, Security and Intelligence organization, which CSC created in 2001 to support programs enhancing U.S. security. For more information, visit DVC’s Web site at www.csc.com/dvc.
About Baxter
Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. . Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists health-care professionals and their patients with the treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.
About CSC
Founded in 1959, Computer Sciences Corporation is a leading global information technology (IT) services company. CSC’s mission is to provide customers in industry and government with solutions crafted to meet their specific challenges and enable them to profit from the advanced use of technology.
With approximately 80,000 employees, CSC provides innovative solutions for customers around the world by applying leading technologies and CSC’s own advanced capabilities. These include systems design and integration; IT and business process outsourcing; applications software development; Web and application hosting; and management consulting. Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., CSC reported revenue of $14.6 billion for the 12 months ended Dec. 30, 2005. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.csc.com.
Computer Sciences Corporation
CONTACT: April Finnen, Manager, Public Relations, DVC LLC,+1-301-607-5004, afinnen@csc.com, or Mike Dickerson, Director, MediaRelations, Corporate, +1-310-615-1647, mdickers@csc.com, or Bill Lackey,Director, Investor Relations, Corporate, +1-310-615-1700, blackey3@csc.com,all of Computer Sciences Corporation
