Vaccine Research
In more swine flu-related news, the CDC has started to send out A/H1N1 seed strains to pharma companies around the world. The seed strain can be used to begin making a vaccine that will likely be in wide demand this fall. Report
ImmunoVaccine Technologies has inked a research pact with FIT Biotech, a Finland-based, clinical stage company that develops DNA vaccines. This research will formulate FIT Biotech's GTU MultiHIV DNA plasmid with IVT's DepoVax vaccine delivery system to advance a therapeutic HIV vaccine. Release
Vaccine Market
The World Health Organization has prequalified Gardasil, giving a green light to agencies like the U.N. Children's Fund to use the HPV vaccine in immunization programs. Report
Simcere Pharmaceutical Group has inked a deal to acquire a 37.5 percent stake in Jiangsu Yanshen Biological Technology Stock, a vaccine developer and manufacturer, for approximately RMB195.5 million. Release
Health experts say that there has been a surge in the circulation of the yellow fever virus in Africa and Latin America. Report
UK officials are warning that a measles outbreak is making it increasingly important for all children to be vaccinated against the disease. Story
The open-access journal PLoS Biology investigates why the debunked vaccine-autism theory won't go away. Senior science writer/editor Liza Gross talks to medical anthropologists, science historians, vaccine experts, social scientists and pediatricians to explore the factors keeping the dangerous notion alive-and its proponents so vitriolic. Release