Sanofi's avian flu drug gets mixed results

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine reports that Sanofi's bird flu vaccine provoked an immune response in only half of the trial subjects. Additionally, very high doses of the drug were needed for a response, though this did not cause any serious side effects. This was the first major test of the drug known as 1203, which the U.S. has stockpiled in the event of a pandemic. Results of the study drew mixed responses from researchers. "We have a vaccine we know can spur an immune response, albeit at very high doses. We're going in the right direction. The sobering news is we have a long way to go. So it's muted good news," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which funded the study. The focus of the study will now shift to creating a more effective, lower dose drug.

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