Vaxart Begins Animal Testing Of H1N1 Flu Vaccine Candidate

Vaxart, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of oral vaccines, announced today that the company has created a candidate vaccine for H1N1 influenza (swine flu). On Saturday, May 23, Vaxart began testing for immune responses in animals, just 25 days after initiating the project. The company will compare performance of the research-grade H1N1 vaccine to its successful avian flu vaccine as a first step towards potential human clinical testing.

The company has also begun preparing source material suitable for production of human H1N1 vaccine; an initial batch could be produced by August. However, human testing may not begin until fall or later, due to the need for safety testing in animals.

“Our oral vaccine could provide an important tool for swine flu pandemic preparation, because of the speed with which it could be delivered to groups such as first-line medical personnel,” said Sean Tucker, Ph.D., Vaxart vice president of research.

Read more….