ALSO NOTED: Sinovac to produce H5N1 vaccine; CG Therapeutics develops new antibodies for tumor vaccine;and much more...

Vaccine Markets

Drug regulators in China have OK'd Sinovac's commercial production of a new H5N1 vaccine for humans following two years of trials. Report

Despite numerous studies discounting any link between vaccines and autism, a series of test cases are proceeding through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program in which parents allege their children were damaged by the vaccines they were given as infants. Article

In an update to its strategic plan, Bavarian Nordic said that it expects to deliver 20 million doses to U.S. strategic stockpiles in 2009 to 2011. Report

India's Hester Pharmaceuticals, which makes poultry vaccines, is planning an acquisition in Europe. Story

The Sabin Vaccine Institute announced a $9.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a global advocacy effort to help countries finance their national immunization systems. Release

The 52nd anniversary of the polio vaccine is approaching. Report

Vaccine Research

CG Therapeutics has inked a deal with two researchers at the University of Washington to develop antibodies that target a hormone that spurs tumor growth. CG Therapeutics believes the new antibodies will play a big role in making its experimental vaccine for tumor growth successful. Report

Avant Immunotherapeutics' mid-stage trial of its typhoid fever vaccine--Ty800--met all primary endpoints. Story

An editorial in the Los Angeles Times applauds the NIH's decision to shift funds for an AIDS vaccine back to the lab as the institute takes a narrower approach in seeking a successful vaccine after years of funding large, and so far fruitless, clinical trials. Report

GenVec has received a Small Business Innovation and Research grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health to support the company's malaria vaccine program. Release

Manipulating a previously identified protein may be the key to developing an effective H5N1 influenza A virus vaccine, say researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Tokyo. Release

Researchers in Australia are recruiting 7,500 patients for the one of the largest flu vaccine trials ever mounted in the country. Researchers hope to collect data on how and when vaccines should be used to help in the annual fight against the flu. Story

Crucell announced that its rabies monoclonal antibody combination has entered a Phase II clinical trial in the United States. Release