Novavax Announces Favorable Results from Phase I/IIa Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Program

Kenneth Miller
08/29/08
4:35 Pm
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/health-care/novavax-announces-favorable-results-phase-iiia-pandemic-influena-vaccine/-859435485


The biotechnical vaccination company know as Novavax released Tuesday their successful clinical trial of a flue virus vaccine for the strain of Indonesian Avian
influenza that causes an 81% death ratio among infected. The unique vaccine, instead of using weakened strains of the virus to build a resistance response,
implements the use of particles that mimic the virus, and have proven to be successful while lowering infection risks. The VLP is disguised as the test disease
by coating it's surface with proteins found in avian influenza, as well as designed to be the same size and shape as the test virus thus building an efficient recognition response from the body. The study although complete is
yet pending on a full safety report. The company is thrilled with the satisfactory results and looks forward to further development with the now proven VLPs to
further produce a potent defense against future strains of influenza. The companies manufacturing process is quick enough they believe their production of
vaccinations will be helpful in halting disease before it grows to pandemic proportions. The VLPs are developed using insect cell cultures and thus
provide a disposable tools, as well as high yield in particle outputs. Also this process produces vaccines up to 50% faster than average vaccine development.
The success attached to these vaccination methods will support Novavaxs development of other vaccination possibilities soon to be in development stages.

For obvious reasons, I find this article somewhat of a breath of air, as well as an interesting outlook for future bio technical possibilities. The true interest
I found in this article came from the development of the VLPs. It truly strikes me as a remarkable feat of science that we are now able to replicate such deadly
diseases with no threat, and to harness such manipulation for the good of mankind. This milestone does help to set the outlook for the promising future of
biotechnological research, and this also being my area of study and major concentration, I can't help feel thrilled for the future of the field. Its hard to
believe that the first line of defense against pathogens is actually harvested from insect cell cultures, which sparks an interest that I would like to further
study. My only real concern, and hardly a concern at that, is the affordability of such technology. Let us hope the vaccinations of this future sort remain
at a decent price, however judging by the enthusiasm of the company, and the supposed disposability of the raw cell material, the production seems to be
affordable and thus should hardly be an issue of economics. I'm sure my relief is dwarfed by the hope this sort of development can provide for more pandemic susceptible
countries. Considering the praised yield of the cell types i also doubt availability to these countries will pose any problem.