Indian company says it is developing new vaccine.

2003 SEP 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An Indian company says it is conducting trials for an anthrax vaccine that will be safer and cheaper than the vaccine currently used around the world and that it hopes to begin selling by March 2004.

"We have completed 75% of trials on animals. We will be starting human trials in December," said Anil Chawla, head of research and development at Panacea Biotech, a New Delhi-based biotechnology firm.

Ever since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed - the vaccine currently used in the United States and other countries - 30 years ago, scientists have been trying to improve on it.

The old preparation contains traces of toxins that can cause a range of skin conditions, breathing difficulties, fever, nausea and even anorexia. To prevent anthrax, patients must receive six shots of the vaccine, which costs around $4 a dose, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

"It will be one of the safest recombinant vaccines in the world," said Chawla of Panacea Biotech's yet-to-be-named preparation. "It has no traces of toxic proteins."

The Panacea ...