BiondVax Pharmaceuticals has enrolled first participants in the second cohort of the pivotal, clinical efficacy, Phase 3 trial of the M-001 universal flu vaccine candidate.
BiondVax explained in th epress release Monday, that M-001 universal flu vaccine candidate is designed to improve upon currently marketed strain-specific vaccines in several ways.
Designed as a common denominator to influenza viruses, results from six completed clinical trials indicate M-001 induces an immune response to a broad range of influenza strains. As well, M-001’s single formulation enables year-round production, vaccination, and stockpiling, the company said.
Dr. Tamar Ben-Yedidia, BiondVax’s Chief Science Officer, said, “Different flu strains circulate with varying frequency across seasons and countries. The Phase 3 trial of our universal flu vaccine is being conducted for two flu seasons over a broad geographic area, and vaccination began this year in July, well before the usual onset of flu season. The current study aims to demonstrate how well M-001 protects the participants against flu illness when they are exposed to any circulating flu strain.“