Australian company, Imugene, has achieved top results
in recent trials of its bird flu vaccine.
Imugene has announced a 100% survival rate in a trial, which
took place in the US, using broiler chickens, to test the
avian
influenza vaccine.
The first dose of the drug was injected into the eggs of the trial group,
and an oral booster was then given when the chickens were seven days old.
The birds were then exposed to a H5N1 Asian strain of the avian influenza
virus. None of the birds showed any signs of the disease.
Out of the eight unvaccinated birds in the trial, seven died when exposed
to the virus.
Imugene managing director
Dr Warwick
Lamb said the company had achieved great progress, and would continue trials
on the drug.
"…we have proven that Imugene's vaccine works when administered orally as
well as when injected into chicken eggs and that we can protect birds from a
young age…both are major steps forward in product development."
Dr Lamb didn't speculate as to when the drug would appear on the market,
but said Imugene was looking to licence the technology to one of the major
animal health companies.
Imugene is developing two vaccines, one for broiler or meat producing
birds, and the other for breeding and egg layer birds.
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by
Editor WorldPoultry
May 23, 2007