Monday, January 22, 2007

Improving Immunization Technology Offers Hope for Bird Flu

Read "Patch Could Stretch the Supply of Flu Vaccine: Iomai Seeks a Partner To Exploit Technology" by Michael S. Rosenwald, The Washington Post, January 22, 2007.

A large grant has been made to Iomai to further develop a technology to deliver flu vaccine by means of a disposable patch that includes an immune-system stimulating adjuvant. If the approach is successful, it might not only reduce immunization costs, but also allow less vaccine per immunisation. (Iomai is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, near where I live.)

The article also notes:
One intriguing possibility that Erck did not rule out is a partnership with MedImmune, the Gaithersburg company that makes the nasal-spray vaccine FluMist, the only needle-free flu vaccine.


Iomai is also reported to be in the last stages of development of patches that would prevent traveler's diarrhea.

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