Australia develops human vaccine for bird flu

[FrenchieGirl]

Australia approves local-made bird flu vaccine

From Reuters Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:56am EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSSYD28231420080617?rpc=401&

CANBERRA, June 17 (Reuters) - Australia said on Tuesday it had approved the first locally made vaccine to protect humans from future bird flu, giving the nod to Panvax manufactured by CSL.

"The vaccine, Panvax, protects humans against the H5N1 influenza virus, which has been responsible for outbreaks of bird flu in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa," Health Minister Nicola Roxon said in a statement.

Experts fear the H5N1 virus, which has led to the slaughter of many poultry populations worldwide, could mutate into a form easily spread among people and spark a pandemic. The virus has killed 241 people in a dozen countries since 2003.

Roxon said Panvax would provide Australians with safe, effective coverage against being infected by a human strain of avian influenza, and was developed with government backing.

Three randomised, double-blind clinical studies were conducted to assess the safety of the vaccine in adults aged 18-64, and older adults aged 65 years and over, she said.

The vaccine is administered in two doses and had been approved by Australia's drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Roxon said.

Panvax can only be used once an influenza pandemic has been officially declared by the World Health Organisation.

CSL shares were off 1.25 percent at A$38.70 on Tuesday in a broader market up 0.7 percent. (Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by David Fox)

 

[Francoise Ramona]

Australia develops human vaccine for bird flu

Australia develops human vaccine for bird flu

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-17 14:20:19

CANBERRA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Australia has developed a human vaccine for bird flu, federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon announced here on Tuesday.

"The first ever Australian-made vaccine to protect humans from future bird flu pandemics has been granted approval for use in the event, of course, of an avian influenza outbreak," Roxon told reporters.

The vaccine, developed by CSL, would protect humans against the H5N1 strain of influenza responsible for outbreaks of bird flu in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, Roxon said.

"We know, of course, that if there is an outbreak that affects Australians, we need to make sure that we are properly prepared," she said.

"What we now have, courtesy of the work done by CSL ... is an Australian-made and able to be manufactured in Australia vaccine which will be able to respond to any new strain of a virus."

"We are very pleased that now that approvals have been granted that if we are in a situation which, of course, we hope we won't be, of a human-to-human virus taking hold in Australia, we will be able to quickly respond," she added.

She also said that in that event, there would be no need to go through the approval process, and the safety of the vaccine had been assessed for adults aged 18-64 and those aged over 65.

More than 160 million dollars (150 million U.S. dollars) had been provided in this year's federal budget to replenish Australia's vaccine stockpile.
Editor: Du Guodong

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/17/content_8385556.htm

 

[Richard McC]

Re: Australia develops human vaccine for bird flu

Oh goody. All our problems are solved.

CSL's press release is here: http://www.csl.com.au/s1/cs/auhq/1196562650160/news/1211307236036/prdetail.htm

They appear to suggest that Panvax protects against all Influenza A strains including H5N1:

"About Panvax
Panvax is a vaccine that can be used only when an influenza pandemic has been officially declared by the Australian Government in consultation with the World Health Organisation. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new strain of the type A influenza virus emerges that is so different to the seasonal influenza virus strains that it spreads rapidly from person to person. In that case, it can cause serious illness because very few people have any immunity to the new virus strain."

Colour me sceptical.