GSK FLU VACCINE SHOWS PROMISING IMMUNE RESPONSE

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has reported a high immune response for it's pandemic flu vaccine with a low dose of antigen — the foreign substance that prompts the body to make an immune response. The company said it expects to be able to file with regulators its pandemic flu vaccine, designed to protect people against the H5N1 bird flu strain, soon after initial data from ongoing clinical trials.

The level of immune response recorded met or exceeded target criteria set by regulatory agencies for registration of influenza vaccines, the company said. GSK says that no other H5N1 vaccine in development has managed to prompt such a strong response with similar levels of antigen dose.

A vaccine that works at low does means that more shots can be made from each batch that is grown in hens' eggs, a process that takes at least six months.

The results are from a trial being conducted in Belgium. GSK is conducting two trials of the vaccine, with 400 people in each.