Swine flu
Belgium's Solvay says it is still conducting studies on the feasibility of producing swine flu vaccine after it wraps up its seasonal flu vaccine production in the next few days. Story
Thomas Lonngren, executive director of the European Medicines Agency, says that the first round of data on the new swine flu vaccines in development--both adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted--demonstrate a strong immune response. Report
Sanofi Pasteur says that it will supply Brazil with 18 million doses of swine flu vaccine with an option for 15 million more. Report
Yesterday in FierceBiotech we reported on Novavax's talks to transfer its flu vaccine technology to a variety of governments around the globe. With major manufacturers maxing out on swine flu vaccine production, some countries want access to its VLP technology, which can be far faster and cheaper than current methods. Article
As manufacturers work furiously to make a vaccine to protect against 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, a Rice University bioengineer is trying to improve the process for future flu seasons. The goal is to shorten the time it takes to identify targeted flu strains and manufacture the vaccines for them. Release
Vaccine Research
Phillip Berman, professor and chair of biomolecular engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has won a $3.5 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to conduct AIDS vaccine research work. Report
Researchers based at Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine say they have ID'd two protein fragments that could be used to develop a new anthrax vaccine. Story
Mymetics has named Dr. Stanley Plotkin, who discovered the rubella vaccine in the 1960s, as the chairman of its revised Scientific Advisory Board. Mymetics release
Vaccine Market
The CRO Encorium Group has won $8.7 million in new contracts, including one pact to test a new swine flu vaccine. Story