Schering-Plough company initiates flu vaccine trial

Schering-Plough’s human vaccine division Nobilon has announced the start of a clinical proof of concept trial into SCH 900795, a new intranasal live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) for annual seasonal use.

In contrast to existing influenza vaccines, LAIV offers single-dose intranasal delivery, advanced cell culture manufacturing technology and possible earlier and broader protection against infection by influenza viruses.

An earlier study of LAIV had a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, rising single-dose design and included a total of 117 healthy volunteers between the ages of 19 and 50 years.

Han van den Bosch, director of research and development at Nobilon, said: “In the new study, we will investigate safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of SCH 900795 in 140 healthy adults of 50 years and older.”

Schering-Plough last month confirmed details of its new board members following a merger with Merck and revealed that Robert Kidder, Patricia Russo and Craig Thompson are to retain their current positions.