DNA vaccine against bird flu to enter trials next year
The needle-free device delivers the vaccine using high-pressure
helium |
Next year will see the start of clinical trials of a vaccine against avian influenza, a UK company announced this week.
PowderMed, based in Oxford, says that it is progressing with its H5N1
vaccine development, and should be able to produce 150 million doses
within a three-month period. The company says that, in the event of a
pandemic, most deaths and illnesses will occur in the first six months
of an outbreak, and their new technology has the potential to halt spread
of the virus and save lives.
The vaccine has been produced by inserting the H5 gene from the current
circulating avian flu strain into the same standard DNA backbone used
in PowerMed’s annual influenza vaccine currently in clinical trials.
The DNA is then attached to tiny particles of gold that are propelled
into the skin using high-pressure helium. Once in the body’s cells,
the DNA is transcribed and translated into the antigen initiating an
immune response to the virus. The company says that the administration
procedure is virtually painless and can be performed without the need
for trained medical personnel. The vaccine will also be stable at room
temperature so would be suitable for large volume stockpiling and distribution.
Clive Dix, chief executive officer at PowderMed, said: “As soon
as a new influenza strain becomes known our ‘plug and play’ system
would enable us to rapidly insert the relevant DNA gene cassette into
our standard DNA backbone. A PowderMed manufacturing facility will be
capable of delivering the vaccine requirements of an entire country within
three months. This is not possible for other technologies.”
The company says that clinical trials are expected to start by the middle
of 2006. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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