Free Newsletter
Switzerland to stockpile GSK's bird flu vaccine
GlaxoSmithKline's experimental bird flu vaccine hasn't been submitted for European approval yet, but Switzerland has already signed a deal to buy enough for its entire population. Switzerland will receive 8 million doses of the vaccine for stockpiling and another 7.5 million doses after any potential pandemic strain is identified. GSK and others in this field believe that creating vaccines based on the H5N1 virus will still afford protection to people after the virus mutates. In its current strain, the virus is not easily transmitted to people. GSK plans to submit the vaccine for approval later this year.
- read the AFX report on the stockpiling deal
Related Articles:
GSK bird flu vaccine spurs more questions. Report
The challenges of infectious disease. Report
Be the first to comment
More stories about Switzerland strain Avian flu vaccine GlaxoSmithKline Avian Flu pandemic Vaccines EMEA infectious disease
Comments
By Dave Moskowitz MD FACP | Posted 5:39pm | February 16, 2007
What's quite interesting is that we have a totally different approach to avian influenza, but it has been shunted aside completely by the CDC and WHO. Our approach has proven useful for West Nile virus since 2003 (1), and was embraced by Sen. Lieberman's office as a possible "universal viral antidote" (2).
I was asked in June, 2004 to brief the White House about it, and I subsequently briefed the Dept of Homeland Security in Sept, 2004 and NIAID (NIH) in Oct, 2004.
It would make vaccines and anti-virals unnecessary for the general population. It might also treat avian influenza in poultry, making culling unnecessary.
And it would do so at no extra expense. Drug stores around the world are already stocked with the drugs we use.
1: Moskowitz DW, Johnson FE. The central role of angiotensin I-converting enzyme in vertebrate pathophysiology. Curr Top Med Chem. 2004;4(13):1433-54. PMID: 15379656 (For PDF file, click on paper #6 at: http://www.genomed.com/index.cfm?action=investor&drill=publications ) --see Table 2 for 8 WNV patients. Currently, we've had success in 20 of 24 WNV patients, as well as 6 of 12 birds, and 3 of 4 horses with WNV.
2. Section 2151 of the Project BioShield II Act of April 28, 2005 (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s109-975), reproduced below, contains language exactly describing our approach:
CHAPTER 5--REPORT AND ADMINISTRATION
SEC. 2151. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Medical Readiness and Response of the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease of the National Institutes of Health, shall submit a report to Congress that describes alternatives to traditional vaccines and anti-viral therapeutics for viral diseases, including negative immunomodulation compounds that partially suppress a macrophage-dependent innate immune response of an individual to viral pathogens, in order to decrease morbidity and mortality from an excessive immune response.
David W. Moskowitz, MD, MA(Oxon.), FACP
Chairman, CEO & Chief Medical Officer
GenoMed, Inc.
"Our business is public health(TM)"
www.genomed.com
Ticker symbol: GMED.PK (on the OTC Pink Sheets)
