Sinovac Biotech flu vaccine OKed in Mexico; EV71 results; financials

In what was a busy news day for Sinovac Biotech (Nasdaq: SVA), a leading provider of vaccines in China, said today (April 18) that it has received approval to commercialize seasonal flu vaccine in Mexico from the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS) of the Mexican Ministry of Health.

The certificate of commercial approval is valid from April 1, 2013 to April 1, 2018. The company filed the application to distribute Anflu in Mexico in 2005, and received the GMP certificate for its seasonal flu and hepatitis A vaccines on August 11, 2011. Mexico-based Laboratorios Imperiales is the exclusive distributor of Sinovac's vaccine products in Mexico, under a distribution agreement signed in 2005 with its affiliate.

Weidong Yin, chairman, president and chief executive of Sinovac, said: "This is a great milestone for Sinovac as we look to continue expanding our commercial efforts worldwide. We are pleased to receive approval to supply Anflu in the Mexican market, which we perceive as a significant opportunity outside of China. We expect to begin sales planning for Mexican market in conjunction with our partner, Laboratorios Imperiales, in the coming days."