February 16, 2009
Vical reports positive bird flu vaccine tests on trial data
Biotech drug developer Vical Inc. in San Diego, California announced that its pandemic bird flu vaccine candidate Vaxfectin showed positive results against H5N1 virus in an early clinical trial.
When the vaccine was given in high doses, Vical said there was evidence of antibody responses in 67 percent of subjects given high doses of Vaxfectin.
The company added that through the end of the study, the responses persisted six months, which suggests the vaccine could provide long-lasting protection. Vical said Vaxfectin may also provide protection against other strains of the influenza virus.
The results were presented at a recent World Health Organization conference in Geneva.
