NIH BIRD FLU DNA VACCINE ENTERS HUMAN TRIALS

The NIH has announced that the first human trial of a DNA vaccine designed to prevent H5N1 avian influenza infection began in December. Scientists from the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases designed the vaccine. The vaccine does not contain any infectious material from the influenza virus, according to the NIH.

Unlike conventional flu vaccines, which are developed by growing the influenza virus in chicken eggs and then administered as a weakened or killed form of the virus, DNA-based vaccines contain only portions of the influenza virus' genetic material. Once inside the body, the DNA instructs human cells to make proteins that act as a vaccine against the virus. The DNA vaccine used in this study is similar to other investigational vaccines evaluated by VRC that hold promise for controlling other viruses, such as HIV, Ebola, SARS and West Nile.

The study will enroll 45 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 60. Fifteen will receive placebo injections and 30 will receive three injections of the investigational vaccine over two months and will be followed for one year. Volunteers will not be exposed to influenza virus.

The vaccine, synthesized using a modified version of the hemagglutinin gene from the H5N1 influenza virus is the first candidate vaccine manufactured at the VRC Vaccine Pilot Plant. The vaccine went from the research bench into clinical trials in less than six months.