DELSITE, INVITROGEN TO DEVELOP AVIAN FLU VACCINE

DelSite Biotechnologies has selected Invitrogen Corporation's PD-Direct services to develop a process for a cell-based avian H5 influenza whole virion antigen to be incorporated in DelSite's nasal vaccine product.

DelSite is developing a nasal powder vaccine for pandemic avian influenza that combines its proprietary GelVac vaccine delivery system with an avian H5 influenza whole virion antigen. Preclinical studies were initiated in December 2004, and formulation development has been ongoing using antigen produced at laboratory scale. The agreement with Invitrogen will allow DelSite to transition from the current lab scale procedures to a scalable manufacturing process in advance of initiating cGMP production for clinical trials.