BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (TASE:BNDX) has obtained Ministry of Health approval for a Stage A/B trial of its second-generation universal influenza vaccine or multimatrix vaccine.
BiondVax's share jumped 45% by early afternoon to NIS 1.21.
The goal of the trial is to test the safety of the vaccine and to assess the immunity it confers on different age groups. The trial will include 60 men and women aged 18-49, and is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year. The company plans to apply for a second trial for later this year, to be carried out on people aged 50-75.
BiondVax president and CEO Dr. Ron Babecoff said, "The company welcomes the approval for the trial, and hopes to bring good news about protection from all flu strains by a single inoculation. Such inoculation will replace the current need for annual flu shots."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 19, 2009
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