As far back as 2006 no fewer than 4 major pharmaceutical companies had applied for vaccine patents to combat a novel strain of H1N1 virus: GlaxoSmythKline, Novartis, Baxter International & Medimmune:
GlaxoSmithKline Patent WO2006100109 A1 / March 21st, 2006
http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/documents/vaccines/WO2006100109A1.pdf
Novartis Patent US 20090047353 / November 6th, 2006
http://www.freshpatents.com/-dt20090219ptan20090047353.php?type=description
Baxter Patent US 20090060950 A1 / 2008
http://preventdisease.com/news/pdf/BAXTER%20Patent%20Application_Monkey_Kidney_Cell_Culture.pdf
Medimmune Patent US 20081006921 A1 [...]
“H1N1 likely to come back as a seasonal flu." – Media
