Research setbacks for Intercell, Inhibitex; New wave of swine flu kills 10

Vaccine Research

Intercell AG was forced to plan deep cuts to its R&D operations after a key vaccine patch program, originally obtained from its 2008 buyout of Iomai, failed in a late-stage study. As part of the prospective cuts Intercell plans to eliminate about half of its staff in Gaithersburg, MD, where the patch technology was developed. Report

Shares of Inhibitex slid 17 percent after the company announced that its shingles vaccine had failed a mid-stage trial. Story

Scientists at the USDA have identified the primary site where the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease begins infection in cattle. USDA release

Vaccine Market

UK officials report that ten people have been killed by swine flu, raising fears of another wave of the flu virus that triggered a pandemic alert last year. Story

Aventis Pharma has agreed to sell its 49 percent stake in Chiron Behring Vaccines to Novartis Pharma. Item

After 10 U.K. swine flu deaths in six weeks, health officials are beginning to worry about another pandemic. Article