Vical Begins Phase I Trial of DNA Vaccine Against H5N1 Pandemic Influenza

Vical reported that it has commenced enrollment in its Phase I trial of the company’s Vaxfectin-formulated plasmid DNA pandemic influenza vaccine.

According to Vical, the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will evaluate safety, tolerability and immune responses in a maximum of 60 healthy volunteers age 18 to 45 at two U.S. sites, Vical said.

The company said its vaccine contains three individual DNA plasmids encoding consensus sequences of two influenza virus proteins — nucleoprotein and ion channel protein — plus a hemagglutinin surface protein from the H5N1 influenza virus strain, A/Vietnam/1203/04. The combination is designed to elicit both T-cell and antibody immune responses against emerging strains of influenza virus that have the potential to cause a pandemic.