The E1.7 million grant which was awarded to a consortium of nine leading universities and companies working in the field of influenza research, will finance preclinical and clinical testing of H5N1 vaccines.
“With a vaccine already in clinical trial based on H9N2, Crucell broadens its pandemic influenza vaccine portfolio adding another potential pandemic strain,” said Dr Jaap Goudsmit, Crucell’s chief scientific officer.
Three influenza subtypes, H5, H7 and H9 have caused highly pathogenic avian influenza. Although presently most vaccine development has focused on H5N1 strains, avian H7 and H9 influenza subtypes remain a pandemic threat and have caused infection in humans in Asia and Europe since 1996.