Vaccine manufacturers will hold top-level talks on Tuesday with public health officials to discuss price discounts and unprecedented joint manufacturing arrangements to help limit the effects of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in poorer countries.

In a meeting with Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organisation, representatives from GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Baxter and other vaccine producers will seek clarity over regulation and funding as they debate how best to respond to the virus.