The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that they have begun human testing on a H5N1 bird flu vaccine that uses experimental DNA technology.
DNA-based flu vaccines hypothetically will work on ALL forms of flu, until they start to mutate. The vaccine will be delivered using Biojector's
needle-free drug delivery system.
Human Tests For Bird Flu Vaccine Begin
Government scientists say that an experimental vaccine technology could give them a jump on the constantly mutating bird flu virus.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers are in the opening stages of testing on humans a new vaccine against H5N1, the pathogen behind the
bird flu outbreak that has sickened at least 261 people since 2003.
The vaccine will also offer a first pass at using experimental DNA technology to make vaccines against flu. Instead of using weakened or killed
viruses to prompt immunity in patients, the new vaccine uses chunks of the genetic material of the flu virus to get the body to react and hopefully
form a defense against infection. The vaccine does not contain any infectious material and cannot cause infection.
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NIH Utilizes Biojector(R) 2000 in Avian Influenza
Study
Bioject Medical Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: BJCT) , a leading developer of needle-free drug delivery systems, today announced that the National
Institutes of Health ("NIH") is utilizing the Biojector(R) 2000 ("B2000") in its first human trial of a DNA vaccine designed to prevent H5N1 avian
influenza infection. The vaccine was administered to the first volunteer a few weeks ago at the NIH clinical center in Bethesda, MD.
The study will enroll 45 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 60. Fifteen will receive placebo injections and 30 will receive three injections of the
investigational vaccine over two months and will be followed for one year. Volunteers will not be exposed to influenza virus.
It's not snake oil.
But at least snake oil did not force - and speed - the evolutionary process.
