ISRAEL'S NASVAX TO DEVELOP NASAL HEPATITIS B VACCINE

Israel-based pharmaceutical company NasVax has entered into an agreement with hepatitis expert Daniel Shouval, director of the Liver Unit Division of Medicine at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem. Under the agreement, Shouval will advise the company in developing new versions of hepatitis B vaccine

In a press release, NasVax reported that Shouval would advise the company in developing an effective reduced-dosage vaccine -- which could be administered to people who have exhibited serious side-effects after being given the normal dosage -- and a nasal vaccine.

Hepatitis B, which is prevalent in many developing countries, causes chronic hepatitis and manifests itself in loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and jaundice. In serious cases of the disease, the liver can be permanently damaged and require transplantation.