A new-style bird flu vaccine made using monkey cells instead of chicken eggs appears to be safe and effective, corporate researchers reported on Wednesday.
The vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza, made by Baxter International, is the first bird flu vaccine to be made using cells in a lab dish instead of chicken eggs. This is important because the right type of chicken eggs are difficult to obtain — and because H5N1 kills chickens rapidly.
The trial of more than 250 people was a phase I/II safety trial, but the report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed the vaccine produced a strong immune response in people who received two doses.
A new-style bird flu vaccine made using monkey cells instead of chicken eggs appears to be safe and effective, corporate researchers reported on Wednesday.
The vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza, made by Baxter International, is the first bird flu vaccine to be made using cells in a lab dish instead of chicken eggs. This is important because the right type of chicken eggs are difficult to obtain — and because H5N1 kills chickens rapidly.
The trial of more than 250 people was a phase I/II safety trial, but the report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed the vaccine produced a strong immune response in people who received two doses.
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