Big Pharma: 2012-13′s Flu Vaccine Field

A look at the players that could see a bump this flu season

Dec 13, 2012, 9:14 am EDT | By James Brumley, InvestorPlace Contributor

View All

AstraZeneca

Like Merck, AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) doesn’t quite ring a bell as a major influenza play. But, it’s in the game, through its MedImmune subsidiary (which AstraZeneca purchased in 2007).

MedImmune is the maker of the popular FluMist, which is administered as a nasal spray rather than an injection. Sales of FluMist totaled $145 million in the third quarter, and $161 million for all of last year.

As of this writing, James Brumley did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.