US orders 22.5 million doses of bird flu vaccine

Glaxo, the company supplying the vaccine, has said that the HHS Department has placed an order for 22.5 million doses of its vaccine to prevent or reduce the spread of the H5N1 flu strain. This follows another order made in November 2006 of 5 million doses.

The company also said that it has initiated Phase I/II clinical trials for its pre-pandemic vaccine. The studies will test the vaccine alone and in combination with one of Glaxo’s adjuvant agents, which can boost the vaccine’s strength. Results are expected early 2008.