Can a usable H7N9 vaccine be made? Research should offer clues soon

[Pathfinder]

Can a usable H7N9 vaccine be made? Research should offer clues soon

Helen Branswell, The Canadian Press
Published Sunday, August 18, 2013 11:12AM EDT
Last Updated Sunday, August 18, 2013 11:13AM EDT
...
"We're just trying to get some indication that the vaccines are immunogenic and certainly well tolerated and that the adjuvants are providing some antigen-sparing effect," Robinson says, adding that preliminary results could be available in October or November.

Robinson is the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tasked with spurring the development of vaccines, drugs and diagnostic tools that might be needed for public health emergencies.
...
Robinson acknowledges he is more optimistic at this point that an H7N9 vaccine that has a practical dosing regimen could be made.

"If I had not seen some of those data, I would probably be as pessimistic as I would have been last year. But some of the animal data is promising and gives a little bit of hope there," he says.

Doses as small as 3.75 micrograms -- one quarter of the dose used per strain in seasonal flu vaccine -- and as large as 30 mcg will be tested, in a two-dose regimen. Because the virus is new to the human immune system, it is expected two doses will be needed.

While the U.S. did not use adjuvants during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic -- Canada did -- it may need to go that route if H7N9 goes on to cause a global outbreak.

"If it takes more than 15 micrograms per dose, then we certainly would rely on adjuvants and the antigen-sparing effects of adjuvants. And hopefully these newer ones will work," Robinson says.

"And if a pandemic were to emerge, then we would be able to have that as a choice to go forward."

Flu vaccine expert Dr. John Treanor says he expects the trials to show adjuvanted H7N9 vaccine will work.

Full text:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/can-a-...ould-offer-clues-soon-1.1416108#ixzz2cKx5le3a

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Can a usable H7N9 vaccine be made? Research should offer clues soon

The question in this case is wrongly presented: Are US citizens ready to accept an adjuvanted shot?

Because adjuvants are needed to improve immunogenicity of the avian influenza virus vaccines as currently they are conceived.

It is a marketing issue, mostly, because a manufacturer would be wary to invest in a product without commercial return ensured.

The US FDA is the 'gold standard' for most part of the world when drugs safety is on debate. But other countries produced their own flu vaccines - adjuvanted or not - without FDA consent...

GM

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Can a usable H7N9 vaccine be made? Research should offer clues soon

The question in this case is wrongly presented: Are US citizens ready to accept an adjuvanted shot?

The anti-vaccination sentiment in the USA is strong, generally based on misinformation and fear. Some people mistakenly believe that the current trivalent influenza vaccine in the USA already contains adjuvants.

During an outbreak of a novel influenza, uptake of a novel influenza vaccine (with or without an adjuvant) will most likely depend on the virulence and mortality rate of the disease, assuming a vaccine is available.

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration paved the way for stockpiling an adjuvanted vaccine for another novel avian influenza, H5N1 (link). So an adjuvanted H7N9 vaccine would most likely be approved, especially in a pandemic emergency.

People need to have realistic expectations about vaccine availability. A transmissible pandemic virus could spread around the globe in weeks. Any vaccine, adjuvanted or not, may not be available until months after the initial outbreak.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Can a usable H7N9 vaccine be made? Research should offer clues soon

I think the emphasis on vaccine gives the false hope that a simple shot will "cure" flu. The reality is that the flu vaccines are 70% effective at best and an extremely small percentage of the world's population will ever have access.

Personal protection measures need to be stressed because that is all most people will have available to them in a real flu crisis:

1) Talk to your close friends and family about forming a mutual buddy partnership for activation in any emergency,

2) Try to obtain a few days of food & water as required by the local type disasters in your area i.e fires, hurricanes, tornadoes etc,

3) Try to obtain a 90 supply of your maintenance drugs especially if you are over 50 years old,

4) Maintain a few feet distance between you and other person when out in public,

5) Consider some kind of mask to prevent droplets from entering your airways,

6) Do not go to work when you are sick,

7) Do not send children to school if they are sick,

8) Regularly clean surfaces at work, school, and home i.e door knobs, toilet handles, refrigerator door, etc.

9) The above listed ideas need to be considered even if you take the flu vaccine. It is not 100% effective.

 

[Vibrant62]

Re: Can a usable H7N9 vaccine be made? Research should offer clues soon

I think one of the key issues over any proposed H7N9 vaccine is its immunogenicity - we may need a lot of antigen compared to a normal flu vaccine to provoke an immune response. An adjuvant may be an essential component alongside a larger than usual antigen dose.

See : http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=208130

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Can a usable H7N9 vaccine be made? Research should offer clues soon

I think that a vaccine is a key tool if the purpose is to reduce the immense burden of an entirely avian influenza virus pandemic.

During the last decade, lots of 'mock' pandemic monovalent vaccines received pre-approval for rapid deployment if a such strain should have been emerged.

After the complete failure of the mass immunization during 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza, most countries grew disbelief in this tool.

I have however reason to think that without a vaccine - albeit not perfect - there is no way to protect and even save the life of millions of people.

This mainly because of the lack of universal health care access even in affluent countries.

If one think for an instant to European Public Health systems, it will be immediately clear that hospitals will not be able to cope even to a moderate seasonal influenza epidemic, as demonstrated by last year overwhelmed ERs across Europe, especially Southern 'faulty' states.

Vaccine = patents = money!

Remind this before starting to elaborate difficult theories about immunogenicity, adjuvants, dose strategies etc.

Money! It's almost only a question of investment and shares.

A vaccine stockpile should have been built short after emergence of H7N9 in China since its severity and lack of medical countermeasures.

'Mock' vaccines are already pre-approved. So, what's the problem?

Almost nobody can afford prep list - honestly prepared by out Staff - it is enough to scan news to see all the mess around the world.

We have the duty to ask our Governments to act accordingly. GM

 

[Vibrant62]

Re: Can a usable H7N9 vaccine be made? Research should offer clues soon

I think work has been ongoing on vaccine development since H7N9 emerged - the full article has details, its just slow progress. In particular the following excerpt from the article highlights the nature of the problems faced.

When H7N9 cases proliferated at an alarming rate in early April, many flu experts worried whether a usable H7N9 vaccine could be made. The few previous studies of vaccines against flu strains carrying an H7 hemagglutinin — the protein on the virus's shell that gives it the H portion of its name — were dismal.

Even with massive doses — 12 times as much vaccine as used to protect against strains of seasonal flu — the vaccines didn't trigger much of an immune system response. Needing huge doses per person would severely limit the amount of vaccine available globally if a pandemic with H7N9 were to occur.

"This was always one of the real gaps we've had," Robinson says.

"We've been successful with (vaccines against) H9s, H5s, H1s, H2s, H3s and so forth. But H7s — we had tried before and we've just not had very good luck.''