MALVERN, Pa., July 18 (UPI) -- Novavax said Tuesday its influenza vaccine yielded positive results in pre-clinical studies.
Novavax is developing a vaccine based on its virus-like particle platform for various types of influenza, including the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
"These results are highly encouraging and are an early affirmation of the strength of our VLP platform in several pre-clinical models," said Rick Bright, Novavax's vice president of vaccine development. "We are eager to compile these data so that they can be shared with the broader scientific community," Bright added.
The research was conducted in collaboration with scientists at the University of Pittsburgh and the Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, Ala.
"Our initial data show that Novavax's VLP vaccines may be capable of raising a protective level of antibodies against influenza after a single inoculation," Thomas Rowe, a research scientist at Southern Research Institute, said in a statement issued by Novavax.
"These data also provide an early indication that it may be possible to reduce the amount of vaccine required to elicit an immune response that correlates with protection," Rowe added.
Novavax said it is working with the Food and Drug Administration to design human clinical trials for the vaccine.
