Vical
Vical Incorporated claims its Vical DNA Vaccine provides complete protection against bird flu and ensures protection against a variety of human flu strains, with this being proven in animal studies.
Testing on mice and ferrets have shown 100% protection against otherwise lethal infestations with H5N1 avian influenza virus. Furthermore, even simplified versions of Vical, containing only two of the three components, have proven the vaccine is effective against multiple human influenza strains and against the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. This is very important, as it means Vical will be adaptable to new strains that might develop in the future, which could spark the much feared pandemic. Encouraged by these results, the company is advancing towards testing on humans of the pandemic flu DNA vaccine candidate.
Vijay B. Samant, President and CEO of Vical, has stated that cross-protection is the ultimate purpose in flu vaccines research and development and evidence suggests this is within the reach of scientists. The company uses conserved influenza virus proteins, combined with their very own manufactured Vaxfection(TM) adjuvant. Mr. Samant also claims the DNA vaccines, Vical in particular, are manufactured through simple bacterial fermentation methods that will ensure production of the vaccine on a large scale in the future.
During the experiments, two groups of mice and ferrets were used to highlight the effects of Vical’s main DNA vaccine candidate. One group were given the vaccine, while the other were administrated a blank DNA control sample. All vaccinated animals survived following the challenging with H5N1 influenza virus, while in the other group mortality was 100%. Vical was also documented to prevent weight loss in all animals, thus suggesting it offers protection against severe flu-related sickness.
Vical’s formula contains three key components dealing with different influenza proteins. Two of those target ‘conserved’ virus proteins, while the other is meant to deal with a ‘variable’ protein. The simplified two-component DNA vaccine ensured a high rate of survival among two groups of mice infected with the disease and only moderate weight loss was observed. This was the first study to prove that a vaccine only targeting conserved flu virus proteins can be efficient against a highly virulent strain such as the H5N1.
As studies advance, flu drugs stocks are being secured by Vical and other companies. If and when the pandemic will occur, people are expected to rush for a cure or prevention method and Vical stocks in pharmacies are expected to need constant replenishment.
A bird flu pandemic threat addresses the problem of finding a versatile vaccine that can provide cross-protection against more than one strain of the virus. With the likeliness of the H5N1 virus to mutate before becoming easily transmissible between humans, Vical seem to provide hope that such a vaccine is obtainable in the near future.
Additional information on Vical is available at www.vical.com.