December 22, 2005

UK scientists claim breakthrough bird flu vaccine for humans

Scientists at PowderMed, an Oxford biotech firm, claimed that they have developed a breakthrough bird flu vaccine for humans. They said new clinical trials have proven the vaccine's effectiveness in protecting against both the primary strain of a flu virus and its mutations.

PowderMed's chief medical officer Dr John Beadle said the tests suggested that the vaccine could be crucial in the fight against both normal human flu and a bird flu pandemic. This is because the flu virus "cannot be precisely predicted" and "the strains change every season."

The latest results came from a phase one clinical trial. A second phase of tests would be conducted next year, and PowderMed's chief executive Dr Clive Dix said the vaccine might reach the market in two years.

However, the company requires GBP90 million worth of investments to develop the production capacity to meet demand for about 120 million flu vaccine doses in the UK alone.