Iomai Corporation has announced positive interim results from its immunostimulant adjuvant patch phase 1/2 trial. The patch was used with the injected H5N1 influenza vaccine. A single 45-microgram dose of an H5N1 influenza vaccine with a single 50-microgram Iomai patch produced a sufficient protective response in 73% of tested patients. The figure showed substantial improvement over those who were administered the H5N1 influenza vaccine alone.

A team of American and Canadian scientists has tested several Ebola vaccines with positive results in monkeys and is now preparing to come up with a human Ebola vaccine for the first time. So far, it has been difficult to create an Ebola vaccine, since the antibody response triggered by killed viruses in the body has not been found to be effective enough.

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Data from a pediatric Phase II study of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, IC51, which is being produced by Intercell and Biological E, demonstrates the impressive safety and immunogenicity profile of the product. The results support Intercell’s development plan for Southeast Asia and pave the way for late-stage development and licensure in late 2009 or early 2010.

Therakos Inc, a pioneer for more than 20 years in immune cell therapy, has announced the receipt of a CE Mark in Europe for its THERAKOS(TM) CELLEX(TM) Photopheresis System. The THERAKOS CELLEX Photopheresis System is used for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases, such as acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). The product offers state-of-the-art technology in a single, integrated, closed system device that allows a sole operator to customize a patient’s treatment and immediately adjust parameters to respond to changes in the patient’s condition.

The results from AMAG Pharmaceuticals’ four different Phase III trials for its ferumoxytol product demonstrated high efficacy and safety, with substantially higher mean increase in hemoglobin from base line to day 35. The overall adverse event rate was lower for patients on ferumoxytol, an IV iron replacement therapy, than for those on placebo.