FOR GLOBAL MEDIA
- CSL Seqirus will provide adjuvanted cell-based vaccines to support Canada, if an influenza pandemic is declared by the World Health Organization (WHO)
- Influenza viruses of pandemic potential including highly pathogenic avian influenza continue to be detected infecting wild birds, poultry and mammals underscoring the pandemic threat posed by influenza and the potential public health risk.1
Summit, New Jersey, USA | 5 March, 2026 -- CSL Seqirus, a business of CSL (ASX: CSL), has been awarded a new contract to support the influenza pandemic preparedness plans of the Canadian government’s Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Under the terms of the contract, Australia-based CSL Seqirus has committed to rapidly manufacture and deliver cell-based adjuvanted influenza vaccines to help protect Canadians if an influenza pandemic is declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Under a previous contract with PHAC, CSL Seqirus was contracted to provide an egg-based influenza vaccine in the event of a pandemic. This shift towards cell-based pandemic vaccines builds on the successful introduction of cell-based Flucelvax® into Canada’s seasonal influenza program over the past six years.
Cell-based manufacturing provides a proven technology platform for pandemic influenza vaccines. These benefits include scalability, reduced reliance on large volumes of critical materials, and the ability to rapidly produce vaccines using state-of-the-art technology. Canada will integrate Seqirus's cell-based pandemic vaccine technology into its already-robust preparedness plan, which ensures whole-population pandemic flu vaccine coverage if needed.2
Gillian Stafford, Canadian Commercial Operations Director at CSL Seqirus, says: “A flu pandemic is an ever-present threat. If one strikes, our rapid response capabilities will ensure Canada has access to vaccines to help protect their populations. We’re honoured to continue contracting with our Commonwealth partner, Canada, a leader in pandemic preparedness, toward our shared goal of protecting public health.”
“This new contract with CSL Seqirus strengthens Canada’s ability to respond quickly to a potential future flu pandemic. By securing access to these flu vaccines, if a pandemic is declared by the WHO, we are reinforcing our commitment to protecting health and being prepared and ready to act in the face of emerging public health threats” commented The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health.
The vaccines will be made at CSL Seqirus' new state-of-the-art Tullamarine facility in Australia. This site adds significant capacity to CSL Seqirus' global pandemic response capabilities and this agreement is the first for the facility beyond Asia-Pacific.
Jonah Smith, Vice President, Manufacturing and Site Head, CSL Seqirus Tullamarine Manufacturing Facility, says: “As Commonwealth nations, we have a long-standing friendship, so we’re thrilled that vaccines manufactured in Australia will help protect Canadians in the event of an influenza pandemic. Our year-round seasonal vaccine production is a critical part of the strong foundations needed to ensure we can rapidly provide pandemic vaccines.”
Gregg Sylvester, Chief Health Officer & Vice President, Medical Affairs, CSL Seqirus adds: “In recent years, outbreaks of avian influenza in animals have highlighted the ongoing importance of pandemic preparedness and the need for vigilance against the public health threat of pandemic influenza. With this latest PHAC contract, we’re proud to continue playing a leading role in pandemic preparedness and delivering innovative pandemic solutions around the world."
Notes to Editors: An asset pack including high-resolution images and video of our Tullamarine manufacturing site is available for download at this link.
About Pandemic Influenza
Influenza is a contagious airborne respiratory disease.3,4 The risk of influenza-associated morbidity and mortality is greater with pandemic influenza than with seasonal influenza because there is likely to be little or no pre-existing immunity to the novel virus in the human population.5 The timing and severity of pandemic influenza is unpredictable. Four influenza pandemics have occurred since 1918, with the 1918 pandemic being the most severe in recent history, with an estimated mortality of up to 50 million people worldwide.6
About Avian Influenza
Avian influenza spreads predominantly among birds.7 Avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans, however in rare cases humans have been infected with avian influenza viruses.8 Illness in humans from avian influenza has varied in levels of severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease and death.7 The spread of avian influenza from one human to another is very rare and typically has only spread to a few people.7
For information on the persistent levels of highly pathogenic avian influenza seen in recent years, CSL Seqirus recommends referring to the WHO website, and CDC, ECDC or national guidance for opinion and guidance on risk.9,10,11,12
About CSL Seqirus
CSL Seqirus is part of CSL (ASX: CSL). As a global leader in the protection of public health and one of the largest influenza vaccine providers in the world, CSL Seqirus is committed to preventing infectious diseases, like influenza and COVID-19, and is a transcontinental partner in pandemic preparedness. With state-of-the-art production facilities in the US, the UK and Australia, and leading R&D capabilities, CSL Seqirus offers a broad portfolio of innovative, differentiated vaccines in more than 20 countries around the world.
For more information about CSL Seqirus, visit www.CSL.com.
About CSL
CSL (ASX:CSL) (USOTC:CSLLY) is a global biotechnology company with a dynamic portfolio of medicines, including those that treat hemophilia and immune deficiencies, vaccines to prevent influenza, and therapies in iron deficiency and nephrology. Since our start in 1916, we have been driven by our promise to save lives using the latest technologies. Today, CSL – including our three businesses: CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor – provides products to patients in more than 100 countries and employs 32,000 people. Our unique combination of commercial strength, R&D focus and operational excellence enables us to identify, develop and deliver innovations so our patients can live life to the fullest. For inspiring stories about the promise of biotechnology, visit CSL.com/we-are-csl/vita-original-stories and follow us on x.com/CSL. For more information about CSL, visit www.CSL.com.
Intended Audience
This press release is issued from CSL Seqirus in Summit, New Jersey, USA and is intended to provide information about our global business. Please be aware that information relating to the approval status and labels of approved CSL Seqirus products may vary from country to country. Please consult your local regulatory authority on the approval status of CSL Seqirus products.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding future results, performance or achievements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
MEDIA CONTACT
Hamish Walsh
+61 422 424 338
Hamish.walsh@seqirus.com
Melanie Kerin
+44 7345 433260
Melanie.kerin@seqirus.com
1 EFSA Journal Avian influenza overview. Available at: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9352 [Accessed January 2026]
2 Government of Canada, How Canada prepares for Pandemic Flu. Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-concerns/emergencies-disasters/emergency-preparedness/pandemic-influenza-preparedness.html. [Accessed February 2026]
3 CDC. About Flu. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/index.html. [Accessed February 2026]
4 CDC. Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines/keyfacts.html [Accessed February 2026]
5 WHO. How pandemic influenza emerges. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/how-pandemic-influenza-emerges. [Accessed February 2026]
6 WHO. Pandemic Influenza Risk Management: A WHO guide to inform and harmonize national and international pandemic preparedness and response. Retrieved from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/259893/WHO-WHE-IHM-GIP-2017.1-eng.pdf;jsessionid=4421F16879D2F8B96481F8D0C745C7F3?sequence=1. [Accessed February 2026]
7 CDC. Current Situation: Bird Flu in Humans. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/inhumans.html [Accessed February 2026]
8 CDC. What Causes Bird Flu Virus Infections in Humans. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/virus-transmission/avian-in-humans.html. [Accessed February 2026]
9 CDC. H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html. [Accessed February 2026]
10 FAO, WHO, WOAH. Ongoing avian influenza outbreaks in animals pose risk to humans. Retrieved from: https://www.fao.org/animal-health/news-events/news/detail/ongoing-avian-influenza-outbreaks-in-animals-pose-risk-to-humans/en. [Accessed February 2026]
11 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Avian influenza overview March – June 2024. Retrieved from: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/avian-influenza-overview-march-june-2024 [Accessed February 2026]
12 CDC. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Animals: Interim Recommendations. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/hpai-interim-recommendations.html. [Accessed February 2026]