New push for meningitis vaccine; Extending flu vaccine protection in the UK;
Vaccine Market A new push by the CDC will help get half of the country's 11 to 18-year olds inoculated with a meningococcal meningitis vaccine, but health officials remain concerned that millions of
Researchers post positive late-stage Heplisav data
Researchers for Dynavax and Merck say that a late-stage trial of their hepatitis B vaccine Heplisav hit the endpoint they were aiming at: non-inferior antibody response compared to GlaxoSmithKline's
Ivins' anthrax attack linked to vaccine criticism?
Federal officials believe that Senator Tom Daschle's objections to the anthrax vaccine being given to soldiers may have been a prime reason why he was targeted in the 2001 anthrax attacks. Daschle
FDA selects flu strains for next round of vaccines
The FDA has come up with a lineup of three all-new flu strains for this year's vaccine recipe. Typically, only one or two strains are changed, but health officials felt that following last season's
IAVI maps out a new route to AIDS vaccine
Merck, Dynavax announce Heplisav results
Dynavax and Merck announced that their hepatitis B vaccine Heplisav achieved the primary endpoint in a Phase III study. In the study, 95.1 percent of subjects who received Heplisav developed
Vitamin C jab slows growth of cancer
Injecting a large dose of vitamin C into mice started a chain reaction that destroyed cancer cells in mice, according to a research team at the National Institutes of Health. Brain, ovarian and
Would-be partners wage angry feud
The angry exchanges between Emergent BioSolutions and Protein Sciences keep getting nastier. Both companies now accuse each other of breaking their $78 million merger pact, and the accusations are
Fauci says HIV vaccine requires a new approach
The deeply confused state of HIV vaccine research was underscored by NIAID chief Anthony Fauci's recent decision to halt a planned human trial of an experimental jab. In an interview, Fauci pointed
Acambis plots growth after $549M buyout
Sanofi-Aventis' announcement earlier this week that it is buying the UK's Acambis for $549 million is fresh evidence of a buoyant vaccine market. The French drug company is paying a 65 percent
Vaccine may offer protection from black plague
An experimental vaccine created from genetically engineered plant cells appears to be effective against the Black Plague, which has bedeviled the world for centuries and is listed as a top bioterror
NIAID backs Emergent work; Antigenics reports a loss;
Alzheimer's vax eliminated plaque, not dementia
Researchers are trying to find out why a vaccine for Alzheimer's would be able to eliminate the beta-amyloid plaque long considered responsible for the disease without actually curing the disease.
Merck invests $300M in vaccine expansion
Merck's decision to pump $300 million into an expansion of its Durham, NC vaccine facility is seen by analysts as part of a coordinated effort to solidify a leading role in a booming global vaccines
Dynavax inks universal vaccine pact with Novartis
Dynavax Technologies and Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics are teaming up on an effort to develop a new universal flu vaccine. Novartis Vaccines, which includes the old Chiron ops it bought out, will
Tobacco used to create new cancer vaccine
A new cancer vaccine made from genetically engineered tobacco leaves has been found safe in a small, early-stage trial. The vaccine also spurred the immune systems of 11 out of 16 volunteers in the
HIV trial scrapped; FDA: Gardasil safe and effective;
Vaccine Research Government officials have scrapped plans for a major human trial of a new HIV vaccine, still convinced that there is considerable basic research work that needs to be done before
U.K. expects superbug vaccines within 10 years
The UK's chief medical officer is predicting that new vaccines will be available within five to 10 years that can protect hospital patients against deadly superbugs that kill thousands of people
Alzheimer’s vax skirts deadly side effects
Scientific American is reporting on the successful advance of a preclinical Alzheimer's vaccine that combines small amounts of amyloid beta and interleukin-4, which is delivered in an inactivated
