Personalized Anti-Cancer Vaccine Pivotal Phase III Results To Be Presented At ASCO Plenary Session

Biovest International, Inc. (Other OTC:BVTI), a majority-owned subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Other OTC:ABPIQ), announced that BiovaxID, Biovest’s personalized anti-cancer vaccine targeting B-cell blood cancers, will be featured in an oral presentation during the Plenary Session at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 in Orlando, Florida.

Stephen J. Schuster, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, will deliver the BiovaxID presentation titled, “Idiotype Vaccine Therapy (BiovaxID) in Follicular Lymphoma in First Complete Remission: Phase III Clinical Trial Results.”

Oregon House Approves Bill Mandating Insurance Coverage Of HPV Vaccine

The Oregon House on Wednesday voted 48-12 to pass a bill (H.B. 2794) that would require state-regulated insurance plans to cover the cost of the human papillomavirus vaccine for girls and women, the Oregonian reports. The vaccine, which FDA approved in 2006 for girls and young women ages nine to 26, protects against certain strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer. The bill does not require that people receive the vaccine, and its coverage requirements do not apply to “large companies that are self-insured.”

Intercell Reports Study Showing Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Is Safe AndImmunogenic In Children At ASTMH Meeting In New Orleans

Intercell AG (VSE: ICLL) today presented results of a clinical study of its Japanese Encephalitis vaccine IC51 in children at the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting in New Orleans. The clinical study in children from 1 to 3 years of age demonstrated excellent immunogenicity with a safety profile similar to placebo.

The company also presented follow‐up data demonstrating the safety of IC51 in vaccines aged 18 years and older, followed for at least 6 months and for 24 months in a long‐term follow‐up study. In addition, Novartis Vaccines, which will market and distribute the vaccine in the U.S., Europe and other parts of the world, hosted a symposium at the meeting that gave an overview of the risk of the virus in tourists, expatriates and military personnel.

Researchers At Global HIV/AIDS Vaccine Conference Express Concerns About Funding Levels

Experts at the AIDS Vaccine 2008 conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday expressed concerns that the current global economic situation could damage funding for AIDS research and vaccine development, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports. The economic situation has “added to the gloom among experts deeply frustrated by … setbacks” in HIV/AIDS vaccine research, according to the AP/Times. There also are concerns that some groups that are large contributors to health and international development initiatives could reduce funding in light of the economic situation, the AP/Times reports.

Supplement Launched At Successful Influenza Conference: Milestone Influenza Publication By Elsevier Journal Vaccine

Last month during an influenza conference organized by the European Scientific Working Group on influenza (ESWI), the Elsevier journal Vaccine released a supplement dedicated to influenza vaccines (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0264410X). This publication provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview on influenza vaccines and was supported by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA).

HPV Vaccine Requirement For Female Immigrants Discriminatory, Advocates Say

Some immigration and women’s rights advocacy groups are claiming that a new requirement for female immigrants to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine is discriminatory, the Dallas Morning News reports. The requirement, which applies to female immigrants ages 11 to 26 seeking permanent residence, went into effect on July 1. The vaccine, approved by FDA two years ago and recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, prevents transmission of HPV strains responsible for 70% of cervical cancer and 90% of genital warts.

NPR’s ‘Morning Edition’ Examines Parents’ Concerns About HPV Vaccine

NPR’s “Morning Edition” on Thursday examined how uneasiness among some parents about having their adolescent girls receive the human papillomavirus vaccine, which is recommended for girls ages 11 to 12, is contributing to low vaccination rates.

NPR reports that the CDC age recommendations for the HPV vaccine were aimed at vaccinating girls before they become sexually active and have the chance to contract HPV. According to CDC, as of late 2007 about 20% of girls younger than age 18 had received the HPV vaccine, which can protect against cervical cancer. Experts say the low numbers largely can be attributed to parents who doubt that their child is sexually active, as well as a mistrust of vaccines and concerns about cost, with the required series running more than $400.

New Data For GlaxoSmithKline’s Pre-pandemic H5N1 Influenza Vaccine, Prepandrix, Show Administration Flexibility For Pandemic Planning

Results from two new clinical studies announced at the Third European Influenza Conference (ESWI) demonstrate that Prepandrix™, GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) H5N1 adjuvanted pre-pandemic influenza vaccine, confers broad cross-clade immunity that is maintained when the second dose is given many months after the first dose, and even if the second dose is formulated from a different H5N1 strain. Greater administration flexibility, adaptable to local pre-pandemic vaccination policies, could potentially reduce the impact on vital healthcare resources during the first intensive months of a pandemic.

Novel Tuberculosis Vaccine In Germany In Clinical Phase

For the first time in more than 80 years a promising live vaccine against tuberculosis has passed into the clinical phase in Germany: Since Monday of this week the new vaccine, which goes by the designation “VPM1002″, has begun safety testing on volunteers in a Phase I clinical trial in Neuss, Germany. It is based on a highly safe vaccine that was introduced in 1921. However, the vaccine has been genetically developed to an extent where it is significantly more effective at preventing infection with tuberculosis bacteria than its predecessor. So far, VPM1002 has proved to be extremely effective and safe in animal models. „ This good protection now has to be proven in humans for the vaccine to be ready for the final approval,” explains the Chief Executive Officer of Vakzine Projekt Management GmbH (VPM), Bernd Eisele.

New Phase II Data Show Novartis Investigational Meningitis B Vaccine May Also Protect Infants Six Months And Older

New data show the investigational Novartis Meningitis B vaccine may be the first to also protect infants six months and older against multiple strains of potentially deadly meningococcal B bacteria. This second successful study of the vaccine in infants supports its potential to provide broad serogroup B strain coverage for both younger and older babies.

Nearly all infants (more than 95 percent) six to 12 months of age enrolled in the study generated a protective immune response as early as one month post-second dose against strains representing multiple antigens included in the vaccine[1].