SEB vaccine trial begins

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GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- A Phase 1 clinical trial of a vaccine to combat Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B, which can lead to toxic shock, is starting on human subjects.

The test of the vaccine from Integrated BioTherapeutics is sponsored by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. It is taking place at the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.

The trial is to test the vaccine's safety and whether it results in an immune response.

"SEB is a bio-warfare threat to the U.S. and the superantigens (the group of toxins to which SEB belongs) can be critical factors affecting the outcome of Staphylococcus aureus infections," said M. Javad Aman, IBT president and chief scientific officer.

"This clinical study advances our vaccine programs designed to protect military and civilian populations against the threat of SEB and our long-term goal of developing vaccines and therapeutics for Staphylococcus aureus.

"We are extremely pleased to see a decade-long research and development effort, which was heavily supported by the government, reach this critical milestone. Safety evaluation of STEBVax is significant as it is the first time a vaccine for such a potent toxin is being tested in humans."