Loading...
The possibility of an H5N1 avian influenza pandemic has been a major global public health concern. Some experts believe that the appropriate question is not “if” a pandemic will occur but “when.” Potential vaccines to prevent H5N1 infection have shown disadvantages, including poor immunogenicity and long lead times for production. Now, researchers have developed a new strategy for manufacturing an H5N1 vaccine, using tissue culture rather than embryonated chicken eggs.
A manufacturer-designed and -supported clinical trial of the resulting vaccine was conducted in Austria and Singapore. Two hundred seventy-five adult volunteers were enrolled in the randomized, dose-escalation, phase I and II investigation. Two doses of the vaccine were given …