Medicago to collaborate with IDRI on H5N1 vaccine
Will combine H5 VLP vaccine with IDRI vaccine adjuvant technology and micro needle delivery device
Canadian biotechnology firm Medicago will participate in a Phase I clinical trial of a vaccine designed for use in the event of an avian pandemic flu outbreak.
The Quebec City based firm is developing a single-dose H5N1 influenza vaccine. It will take part in the trial with the Seattle-based Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), which has been awarded a multimillion dollar grant by the US Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The one-year project combines Medicago's plant made H5 Virus-Like Particle (VLP) vaccine with IDRI's vaccine adjuvant technology as well as a micro needle delivery device. These three technologies could improve protection, reduce the amount of product required and simplify vaccine distribution and administration, the firm said.
‘This research collaboration may provide unique solutions that make vaccination against influenza pandemics not only faster but with minimal dosing and greater ease of application,’ said Andy Sheldon, president and ceo of Medicago.
‘We continue to advance the clinical development of our H5 avian flu vaccine and expect to have Phase II interim results within the coming weeks.’
Darrick Carter, IDRI's Director of Formulations, added: ‘Medicago's VLP plant-based vaccine technology is one of the most promising new technologies producing the next generation of vaccines. Their plant-based technology has already proven that it can produce emerging strains faster than conventional egg and cell based technologies.’