Favourable West Nile vaccine results

Early results from a Phase I safety and efficacy trial of a West Nile virus vaccine, being developed by Acuvax’s US affiliate Hawaii Biotech, are “stunning”, the company said.

The results will enable an easier roll-out for a dengue fever vaccine, Acuvax’s CEO Dr William Ardrey said in a statement.

Hawaii Biotech, a private company in which Acuvax has a substantial shareholding, is trialling its vaccine in 24 healthy volunteers to check safety and antibody development.

All volunteers showed the presence of neutralizing antibodies. The vaccine is based on a proprietary recombinant DNA technology platform, which is being used by Hawaii to develop a vaccine for dengue fever, as well as candidates for malaria, tick-borne encephalitis virus and flu.

The company will now begin trials in children, the elderly and immuno-compromised patients.