Profectus starts Ph1 HIV vax trial; Novartis studies adjuvant use to boost flu vax response;

Vaccine Research

Profectus BioSciences is starting a Phase I trial for an HIV vaccine that uses a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector (rVSV). The trial is sponsored by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and will enroll 60 patients who are not infected with HIV. Profectus release

According to an Emory University study, mothers who are inoculated against the flu are less likely to have premature babies during flu season than mothers who abstain from the vaccine. Report

Novartis and U.S. government agencies have found that using an oil-in-water adjuvant, called MF59, can increase the efficacy of flu vaccines. Researchers believe the new approach could help "give vaccine makers the edge in a game of catch-up with dark horse [flu strains]." News

Medicago has joined the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases to research VLP vaccine candidates for ebola using its plant-based VLP technology. Medicago release

A new study has shown that H1N1 vaccines are safe for rheumatoid arthritis patients, although RA sufferers have a response rate that is 20 percent to 30 percent lower than the general population. Item

Vaccine Market

While Europe deals with a deadly E. coli outbreak, Bioniche Life Sciences in Canada will soon release Econiche, its bovine E. coli vaccine to market. Story

PPD has received a $44.5 million U.S. Army contract for regulatory and biostatistical services for the Army's clinical development programs, including vaccine programs. The contract expires on April 15, 2016. News