Jerusalem-based BiondVax Pharmaceuticals is edging closer to an unprecedented universal, multi-season and multi-strain flu vaccine capable of protecting all of us from current and future, seasonal and pandemic influenza virus strains.
In Octover 2018, Nasdaq-listed BiondVax announced the successful enrollment of the last participant in the first season of its phase three trial in Eastern Europe. More than 4,000 participants are being monitored for two flu seasons, and the second cohort of approximately 6,000 participants will be enrolled prior to next winter’s flu season. Participants, ages 50 years and older, with half of the 65-plus, are randomly divided into two equal groups, one receiving M-001 and the other receiving a placebo. Results are expected in the second half of 2020.
In August 2018, BiondVax moved to a new manufacturing facility at the Biotechnology Park of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem campus. The 20,000 square-foot facilities will enable BiondVax to produce up to 40 million vaccine doses in bulk, and up to 20 mil-lion single-dose syringes.
To advance its technology, BiondVax has received considerable financial and research support, including 20 million euros ($22.68m.) from the European Investment Bank, and support from the Economy Ministry and the US National Institutes of Health.
Source: Jerusalem Post 19/03/2019 https://www.jpost.com//HEALTH-SCIENCE/BiondVax-edges-closer-to-elusive-universal-flu-vaccine-583749
