GlaxoSmithKline reports “significant” bird flu vaccine breakthrough

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has reported it has made a “significant” advance in its attempts to manufacture a vaccine for the H5N1 bird flu virus, which many fear could mutate into a form transmissible between humans.

Its new vaccine demonstrated that it could induce a “high immune response” from only a low dose of antigen. More than 80 per cent of patients who received 3.8 microgram doses of vaccine antigen achieved a “strong” seroprotective response.

GSK claims that this benchmark surpasses the target criteria set by regulatory authorities for influenza vaccines.

JP Garnier, chief executive of GSK, stated: “This is the first time such a low dose of H5N1 antigen has been able to stimulate this level of strong immune response.”

“There is still a lot more work to be done with this programme, but this validation of our approach provides us with the confidence to continue developing the vaccine, including assessment of its ability to offer cross-protection to variants of the H5N1 strain,” he added.

Last week, GSK received an order from the US government for 15.5 million treatment courses of Relenza, an antiviral drug. The initial purchase of $16.8 million is to help prepare the US against a possible influenza pandemic.

GSK, the UK’s largest pharmaceutical company, markets more than 25 vaccines across the world for the prevention of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, bacterial meningitis, measles, mumps and polio. It also has a vaccine in late stage development for the HPV viruses that cause cervical cancer, while two candidates for an HIV vaccine are currently being researched in conjunction with Cobra Biomanufacturing in the UK.

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