UTMB researchers to develop universal flu vaccine

University of Texas Medical Branch researchers have been awarded a $4.4 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop a universal influenza vaccine to protect against all influenza viruses, according to the university.

The university is partnering with the Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company Etubics Corporation to develop and test the vaccine, which would contain various fused antigens of influenza A and B viruses.

Frank Jones, PhD, chairman and CEO of Etubics, said the multivalent vaccine could be ready for clinical use within 5 years.

A 2004 study published in JAMA indicated that more than 200,000 respiratory and circulatory hospitalizations are associated with seasonal influenza virus infections each year, suggesting the need for improved influenza protection.

A cross-reactive vaccine that induces long-lasting immunity against all influenza virus types would help reduce mortality and health care costs, according to Jones.

“We are grateful to the NIAID for the support of our efforts to develop a much needed universal influenza vaccine,” he said in a company press release. “The recent H1N1 pandemic has taught us that a broad cross-reacting influenza vaccine is needed to protect against often fatal outbreaks as well as seasonal influenza.”

Slobodan Paessler, DVM, PhD, associate professor in the department of pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and co-principal investigator on the grant, said UTMB has the infrastructure in place to develop the vaccine.

“UTMB has broad capabilities in the area of vaccine development and infectious diseases,” he said in a university press release. “We believe these resources provide an excellent infrastructure to support this project as it moves forward through the vaccine development pathway to ultimately become a licensed vaccine.”

For more information:

Thompson WW. JAMA. 2004;292:1333-1340.