SEC Ends Chiron Probe
Chiron
(CHIR) - Get Report
said Tuesday that the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission
has closed an investigation into the company's failure to produce flu vaccine in the U.S. market during the 2004-2005 flu season.
The
SEC staff began an informal inquiry in October 2004, soon after the Emeryville, Calif., company said it wouldn't sell the vaccine due to manufacturing problems at its U.K. plant. Chiron had been expected to produce 48 million to 50 million doses of vaccine. The company
sold about 13 million doses for the U.S. market during the current flu season.
The SEC staff was trying to determine if Chiron violated any federal securities laws based on the temporary suspension of the U.K. plant's license and the company's restatement of its financial results for the second and third quarters of 2004.
"Chiron has been informed that no enforcement action has been recommended against the company in connection with these matters," the company said Tuesday.
In early trading Tuesday, Chiron's stock was up 5 cents to $45.65.