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2007-9-3 23:33:26 |
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The U.S. government announced Wednesday it has awarded contracts totaling $132.5 million to three companies for the advanced development of H5N1 bird flu vaccines, using an immune system booster called an adjuvant. An adjuvant is a substance added to a vaccine that increases the body's response to the active ingredient (antigen) in the vaccine. "In the event of an influenza pandemic, a vaccine that uses adjuvant could provide a way to extend a limited vaccine supply to more people," Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said in a prepared statement. Five-year contracts were awarded to drug maker GlaxoSmithKline ($63.3 million) and to Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc. ($54.8 million). In addition, a 15-month, $14.4 million contract was awarded to IOMAI Corporation to complete phase I clinical trials of their candidate vaccine. If the trials are successful, IOMAI may receive an additional $114 million in funding. Under the contracts, each company will build up its capacity to produce either 150 million doses of an adjuvant-based influenza vaccine or enough adjuvant for 150 million doses of a vaccine. The companies must be able to do this within six months of the onset of an influenza pandemic. So far, the H5N1 bird flu virus has spread to more than 40 countries, resulting in the death and slaughter of millions of chickens and other domestic birds. More than 260 people in 10 countries have been infected by H5N1 and more than half of them died. In most of the human cases, H5N1 infection occurred after direct contact with sick animals. However, experts fear that the virus may mutate into a form that's easily transmitted between people. ----- Last Updated: Jan. 17, 2007 Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews LLC. All rights |
