Vical's pandemic flu vaccine candidate Vaxfectin demonstrated safety and efficacy in a Phase I trial, the San Diego-based biotech reported today. The vaccine effectively induced antibody formation in 67 percent of patients and T-cell responses in 75 to 100 percent of patients in reaction to the H5N1 flu virus. The trial included about 100 patients, aged 18 to 45, spread amongst three clinical sites and lasted 182 days.
Responses were maintained for the duration of the trial, which suggests the vaccine could provide long-lasting protection. Vaxfectin also produced a response against different strains of the H5 virus, which suggests that the vax may protect against other emerging strains of the flu virus as well.
"Vical is currently exploring potential sources of funding for further development toward commercialization. The company's near-term goals are to confirm vaccine safety and immunogenicity in a larger number of subjects, optimize vaccine dose and adjuvant ratio, explore prime-boost regimens with different vaccines, and leverage the Phase 1 proof of concept for its DNA vaccine platform and Vaxfectin(r) adjuvant into additional indications, " the company said in a statement.
- check out the Vical release