GSK, Sanofi and CSL Ltd have secured $72 million from the U.S. government to ramp up production of bird flu vaccines, a health official said on Friday during a press briefing. The move comes as a multi-state outbreak among livestock and poultry has caused human illnesses and infected more than 254 herds in 14 states since March,

The U.S. government has granted $72 million to European pharma giants GSK Plc (NYSE:GSK), Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:SNY) and Australian firm CSL Limited (OTC:CSLLY) to more than double the U.S. supply of bird flu vaccines.

CSL Seqirus, Sanofi and GSK have collectively secured $72 million in funding from the U.S. health department to boost the country’s supply of bird flu vaccines. | CSL Seqirus, Sanofi and GSK have collectively secured $72 million in funding from the U.

Australia's CSL said on Wednesday it has got a contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worth $121.4 million to increase the U.S. government's stockpile for bird flu vaccines to 40 million doses.

Sanofi (SNY), and CSL (CSLLY) win $72M U.S. contract to expand bird flu vaccine production amid fears of human transmission. Read more here.