Archimedes in 2.8M-euro avian flu project

27 July 2008

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."

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK





Today's issue

Company Spotlight