Protein Sciences Announces Availability Of Two Patented Late-Stage Vaccines.(Brief Article)

2001 DEC 26 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Protein Sciences Corp. (PSC) has reacquired all rights to two patented, late-stage influenza vaccines. The vaccines are:

* Recombinant hemagglutinin (rHA) that potentially can be used as a replacement for the current egg-based influenza vaccines. rHA has completed several Phase II human clinical trials conducted by the U.S. National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and academic institutions involving more than 600 patients that demonstrated safety and efficacy as reported in four studies published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The initial target market is the elderly, where the licensed vaccine is less effective than in other populations. Clinical trials of rHA have shown efficacy in the elderly population.

* Recombinant neuraminidase (rNA) that has potential for use as an efficacy-enhancing additive to influenza vaccines. rNA completed Phase II(b) clinical trials conducted by the NIAID. Clinical data demonstrated safety and, when combined with the current vaccine, a significant increase in the level of antibodies and, for vaccinated people who become ill, less viral shedding and shorter duration of illness compared with the licensed vaccine alone.

Both products are covered by issued ...