The race for a new vaccine to fight a human outbreak of H5N1 has heated up as GlaxoSmithKline says it has begun human trials of two experimental bird flu vaccines. Researchers have made this new vaccine with an that boosts the vaccine's effectiveness. It is also boosting the hopes of GSK researchers, who believe that the new vaccines may be much more effective at combating bird flu than a competing vaccine that is being advanced by Sanofi-Aventis. Sanofi researchers said earlier this week that their vaccine has proven effective in only its highest dose for half of the patients taking it. GSK believes the adjuvant may also play a major role in making the vaccine effective for slightly evolved viruses.
- here's the Boston Globe article for more