British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline said Friday the European Medicines Agency had proposed EU authorisation for a mock-up pandemic influenza vaccine.

It is the first drugs company to obtain such a recommendation.

The vaccine concerned, Daronrix, is intended for the prevention of influenza during a pandemic.

The EMEA said the objective behind a mock-up vaccine was to have marketing authorisation in place that can be changed quickly in the event of a pandemic to include the virus strain responsible.

The proposal will now go to the European Commission for a final decision.

"Receiving this positive opinion... is testament to the company's ongoing commitment to provide health authorities with concrete options against the threat of an influenza pandemic," said Jean Stephenne, the head of Glaxo's vaccine division.

Experts are worried that a flu pandemic could kill millions of people worldwide if the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu acquired genetic material from a human influenza virus and became easily transmittable between people.