January 19, 2007

US gives out US$132.5 million to fund bird flu vaccine research

The US department of Health and Human Services has awarded contracts totaling US$132.5 million to three vaccine makers for the advanced development of H5N1 influenza vaccines using an immune system booster called an adjuvant.

An adjuvant is added to a vaccine to increase the body's immune response.

Such a vaccine could provide a way to extend a limited vaccine supply to more people, Secretary Mike Leavitt said.

The department has so far awarded five-year contracts to GlaxoSmithKline for US$63.3 million and to Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc. for US$54.8 million.

The department is also funding IOMAI Corporation for US$14.4 million for 15 months to complete phase one clinical trials of their candidate vaccine. An additional US$114 million may be given  upon successful completion of the phase one trials.

The contracts specify that each company would build up its capacity to produce within six months after the onset of an influenza pandemic either 150 million doses of an adjuvant-based pandemic influenza vaccine or enough adjuvant for 150 million doses of a pandemic influenza vaccine.