In response to the announcement from Wyeth that the global drugs maker will end its production of the influenza vaccine FluShield, Britain's PowderJect Pharmaceuticals has revealed that it intends to ramp up production of its own vaccine next year to cover the downturn in vaccine availability. The increase will be made possible by the completion of the first phase of the company's planned three-year production expansion. Having produced 27 million doses of the vaccine in 2002, PowderJect originally planned to boost production to 35 million doses in 2003 and 45 million doses the year after, but will raise those figures after the Wyeth announcement has opened the door to additional doses on the market.