Universal flu vaccine developer BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (TASE:BNDX) announced on Friday that it had successfully completed the Phase I/II clinical trial of its second-generation universal (multimetric) flu vaccine on 60 people aged 18-49. The trial was conducted at Sourasky Medical Center Tel Aviv (Ichilov Hospital).
The vaccine was found to be safe in all the dosages given, both with an adjuvant and without it. The vaccine activated two branches of the human immune system - antibody and cellular - at statistically significant levels compared with the control group. The blood samples of every trial participant who received the vaccine showed levels of antibodies were created against the universal vaccine. These antibodies also specifically identified a number of flu strains, including the swine flu strain H1N1/A.
Biondvax's share rose 33% in morning trading to NIS 4.27, giving a market cap of NIS 140 million.
The vaccine caused antibody response against two flu classes: type A and type B, which include all flu strains that affect people. The company said that this result contrasted to other universal flu vaccines under development, which according to the scientific literature, protect only against type A flu strains.
The Phase I/II clinical trial is the first of two trials that Biondvax is conducting. The second trial is on 60 people aged 55-75. The company expects results in the first quarter of 2010.
Biondvax CEO Dr. Ron Babecoff said, "The results achieved in this trial are an important indication and milestone to realizing the company's vision of ensuring protection against all flu strains with a single vaccine. This vaccine will save the need to get vaccinated every year as is currently the case."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 6, 2009
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