Archimedes in 2.8M-euro avian flu project

Archimedes Development, a subsidiary of UK-based specialty company Archimedes Pharma, has received European Union funding totalling 2.8 million euros ($4.0 million) over three years, for a collaborative project to reduce the threat of an avian influenza pandemic by developing a vaccine against the virus. The Nasal Pandemic Influenza Vaccine (NASPANVAC) project is funded by the EU under the 7th Framework Program scheme.

The aim of the project is to develop an effective, user-friendly, stable and intranasally delivered vaccine against highly pathogenic strains of the influenza virus (HF591 and other H5 and N7 subtypes) using Archimedes' proprietary nasal delivery platform, ChiSys, and to have demonstrated proof of principle in clinical trials during the program, the firm noted. The three year trans-disciplinary collaborative project will involve several European research and academic institutions and small-to-medium enterprises, which each bring their extensive experience in various specialist fields, including, avian influenza and vaccine research, development and delivery, to the program.

Richard de Souza, chief executive of Archimedes Pharma, said: "the most effective way to protect against an avian influenza pandemic is vaccination. Vaccines delivered via the nasal route have the advantage of allowing the generation of both local mucosal and broad systemic immune responses as compared to injectable vaccines which are more difficult to administer and do not generate the mucosal responses."