Vax makers race to clinic with new vaccines; new flu strain emerges; Vical takes RapidResponse DNA program into third year

Swine Flu

With vaccine developers engaged in a frenzied race to develop a new vaccine for H1N1, Baxter International says it should have commercially available supply in July. Report

Sinovac Biotech says it expects to complete a clinical trial on its swine flu vaccine in July. Story

Scotland's Vitrology has begun lab testing of a new swine flu vaccine to make sure that it's safe for a human clinical trial. Report

In a sign that the swine flu virus is mutating--as viruses do--Brazil is reporting that it has found a new strain of the virus. There's no word yet whether it's any deadlier than the most common form of swine flu, which has been relatively mild. Article

Experts are still pondering exactly who will need a swine flu shot first. Story

Vaccine Research

With the help of a $6 million grant from NIH, Vical says it will take its RapidResponse DNA manufacturing program into a third year after meeting second-year milestones. Report

GSK has inked a collaboration deal with Protea Vaccine Technologies in developing a universal protein-based Streptococcus pneumonia vaccine. Story

Pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline has begun a late-stage test of a new malaria vaccine that was developed with a strong assist from Antigenics. Report

DNA vaccination using lupus autoantigens and interleukin-10 (IL-10, a cytokine that plays an important role in regulating the immune system) has potential as a novel therapy to induce antigen specific tolerance and may help to prevent kidney damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Release

Vaccine Market

Health officials in the UK have ruled out a compulsory vaccine campaign following the outbreak of measles in Wales. Story

Intervet/Schering-Plough has introduced a new Lyme vaccine for dogs. Report