Novavax developing swine flu vaccine, uses ferrets in preclinical trial

ROCKVILLE, Md. A company developing a vaccine for the A(H1N1) virus using a proprietary “virus-like particle” technology announced Tuesday that it got favorable results in a preclinical trial using ferrets.

The company said all the ferrets in the study group developed immunities against the virus after receiving a 3.75-microgram, 7.5-microgram or 15-microgram dose, followed by a second dose after three weeks. The ferrets that received the higher doses developed immunities after the first dose alone. The company conducted the study under collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Demonstrating that our influenza VLP vaccine candidate protects against the pandemic H1N1 virus in an animal model is another important milestone for us to have met,” Novavax VP vaccine development Gale Smith said in a statement.