Drug & Device Development

Sinovac says one-shot swine flu vaccine effective

Last Updated: 2009-08-18 19:46:46 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON (Reuters) - An H1N1 swine flu vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech is effective after just one shot, its developer said on Tuesday.

Until now, experts have predicted that two shots will be needed to provide swine flu immunity. But Sinovac, which is the first company worldwide to complete clinical trials for an H1N1 vaccine, said a single dose of its vaccine proved sufficient.

Sinovac said immunogenicity after one dose of its vaccine had "reached the international criteria for vaccines" but the company did not provide more specific details. There were no signs of severe adverse reactions, it added.

Clinical trials were initiated in July, with 1,614 participants over three years old receiving the vaccine.

Statements from the company issued in July and early August had implied that study subjects would be receiving a second dose of the vaccine.

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