Plant-based H1N1 vax starts clinical trial

The Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology and iBio have found a new possibility for H1N1 vaccines. Rather than using traditional vaccine ingredients, the Newark, NJ-based center uses gene-infused, tobacco-type plants to create proteins used in their swine flu vaccine. And so far, the plant-based derivative seems to work. Researchers have started an 80-person clinical trial at the Walter Reed Army Institute.

"Moving to human trials is an important step which will demonstrate the utility of our unique production platform to produce much-needed vaccines quickly to meet infectious-disease threats," Vidadi Yusibov, executive director of Fraunhofer's Newark center, says in a statement.

For now, the trial will focus on safety and proper dosage. If it performs well, the vaccine could greatly shorten vaccine production time from months to weeks.

- read the Delaware Online article