SALES of its H1N1 swine flu vaccine will help drugs giant Novartis achieve record results, said the Swiss group.

It reported a 1% increase in net third-quarter profits of $2.1bn on revenues of $11bn, including an 11% local currencies sales increase from its pharmaceuticals division, during the three months to September 30.

The group’s Speke site, employing about 600 staff, completed early delivery of 27m doses of conventional flu jabs for the US market last month in order to ramp up production of its H1N1 vaccine after regulatory approval was obtained for the US and UK markets.

Novartis said it expects to produce up to 120m doses of H1N1 jabs in its European plants by the end of this year, yielding fourth-quarter net sales of up to $700m.

Chairman and chief executive Dr Daniel Vasella said: “Deliveries of H1N1 pandemic flu vaccines are underway as Novartis works at full capacity to meet public health demands.”

The third-quarter update said the group was “on track for record sales and earnings in 2009.”