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news.Sanofi Pasteur has revealed that its vaccine to protect against the H5N1 influenza virus can protect against new strains of the virus, providing wider protection in the event of a pandemic.
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Sanofi Pasteur said that the vaccine induces antibodies that neutralize these additional strains which were recently discovered and not included in the original vaccine formulation.
“Improving the repertoire of antibody response is an important goal for pandemic influenza vaccines” said Maria Zambon, deputy director Virus Reference division, Health Protection Agency, UK.
Analysis of blood samples from volunteers who participated in the first phase I clinical trial conducted in 2005 with H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine showed the potential of the vaccine to protect against recent H5N1 circulating viruses.
On the same day GlaxoSmithKline reported that it had entered an agreement with Switzerland for an advanced purchase agreement if its flu pandemic vaccine. 8 million doses were ordered, enough to cover the entire population.
Sanofi Pasteur has signed contracts with American and certain European governments to distribute the vaccine in the event of a pandemic.