Vaccine Research
While HPV is most commonly associated with cervical and anal cancers, researchers have found that it's the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancer, or cancer of the upper throat. And that threat continues to rise, especially in men, and could become the leading HPV-caused cancer. As of now, Merck told USA Today it doesn't plan to do an oral cancer study. Report
Researchers at the Spanish National Research Council's National Biotech Center have conducted a 30-person HIV vaccine trial and found a 90% immune response to the vaccine. All patients were HIV-free and 85% maintained a good immune response one year after the innoculation. Story
Novavax's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine has produced good immune responses without significant side effects in a 150-person trial. RSV is the leading cause of bronciolitis and pneumonia in children younger than one year old. More
Vaccine Market
Biovest has started scheduling pre-filing discussions with regulatory agencies, including Health Canada, FDA and EMA, for its personalized cancer vaccine BiovaxID. The meetings will start before the end of the year. Biovest release
The WHO has recommended using the three flu strains from this year's Northern Hemisphere flu vaccine in next year's Southern Hemisphere flu vaccine. This is the third year the WHO has made such a recommendation. Article
Progenitor Cell Therapy and ImmunoCellular Therapeutics have formed an agreement to manufacture ICT-107 together. The glioblastoma vaccine, which focuses on multiple antigens associated with tumors, is preparing for a Phase II clinical trial. News
And Finally... While opposition grows quiet, Massachusetts is closer to enacting a public vaccine registry, which will enable doctors to better track patients' vaccine records and distribute reminders for immunizations. The state is one of only two--New Hampshire is the other--without a statewide vaccination registry. Item