NABI BIOPHARMACEUTICALS BEGINS S. AUREUS STUDY

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has initiated the first human clinical study for a vaccine being developed to prevent Staphylococcus aureus type 336 infections in at-risk patients. Patients at the highest risk for S. aureus infections include dialysis patients, patients undergoing certain types of invasive surgery, patients in intensive care or shock-trauma units, patients receiving cancer chemotherapy or other immune suppressive treatments, and patients in long-term care facilities. This is a Phase I study that will evaluate safety and immune response of the vaccine in healthy volunteers.

The Phase I study is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study to evaluate safety and antibody responses of the vaccine in up to 48 patients at four different dosage levels. Within each of these four dose groups there will be 12 patients, nine receiving the type 336 vaccine and three receiving placebo. The doses will be administered in an escalating manner. Nabi expects to announce results from this trial in the second half of the year.