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EMERYVILLE, Calif. (AP) - Chiron Corp., which last flu season halted its output of flu vaccine for the U.S. market because of quality-control problems, said Friday it will cut supply of vaccine in Europe after it discovered tainted batches at its plant in Germany.
The Marburg, Germany plant makes Begrivac, a flu vaccine Chiron sells in Germany and England. The company reduced its expected output of Begrivac for the upcoming flu season to 4 million doses from 12 million. Chiron does not expect to sell any Begrivac in the third quarter and said it is working with German regulators to discover the extent of the contamination.
The company said that it still expects earnings to fall within the range of its most recent guidance for 2005. Chiron forecast earnings per share of 86 cents to $1.11 per share, an outlook the company lowered in June from $1.06 to $1.16 per share. On a pro forma basis, the company expects earnings of $1.20 to $1.45 per share from continuing operations. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expect earnings per share of $1.31 on revenue of $1.96 billion.
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