GSK reports significant progress in avian flu vaccine programme

GlaxoSmithKline has announced positive results after clinical trials of its H5N1 virus ("bird flu") pandemic flu vaccine.

The vaccine achieved a high immune response at a low dose of antigen in the trial, conducted in Belgium with 400 healthy adults aged 18-60. Over 80% of the subjects who received a 3.8µg dose of antigen demonstrated a strong seroprotective immune response, meeting or exceeding the target criteria for registration of influenza vaccines set by regulatory agencies.

To date, efficacy results at these levels of antigen dosage have not been reported for any other H5N1 vaccine in development - including those using other adjuvants (ingredients that stimulate the immune system, increasing response to the vaccine) such as alum.

GSK ceo Jean-Pierre Garnier said: "These excellent clinical trial results represent a significant breakthrough in the development of our pandemic flu vaccine.

"There is still a lot more work to be done with this programme, but this validation of our approach provides us with the confidence to continue developing the vaccine, including assessment of its ability to offer cross-protection to variants of the H5N1 strain."

"All being well, we expect to make regulatory filings for the vaccine in the coming months", Garnier added.