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Vaccines
Research data from Novartis update understanding of vaccines
November 7th, 2009
"West Nile virus (WNV) causes significant disease, yet no vaccines exist to prevent WN disease in humans. We have previously reported that RepliVAX WN is a safe and efficacious vaccine in mouse and hamster models of WN disease," researchers in the United States report. "Here, we report that vaccination of hamsters with RepliVAX WN induces antibody responses that remain stable for at least 6 months. Furthermore, animals challenged with virulent WNV 6 months after vaccination were protected from disease as well as those challenged 2 months post-vaccination, with no vaccinated animals succumbing to WNV challenge," wrote D.G. Widman and colleagues, Novartis. The researchers concluded: "These results indicate that RepliVAX is capable of inducing durable protective immunity after a single dose." Widman and colleagues published their study in Vaccine (RepliVAX WN, a single-cycle flavivirus vaccine to prevent West Nile disease, elicits durable protective immunity in hamsters. Vaccine, 2009;27(41):5550-5553). For additional information, contact P.W. Mason, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostic, Microbial Molecular Biology, 350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Vaccine is: Elsevier Science Ltd., the Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, Oxon, England. Keywords: United States, Cambridge, Biotechnology, Flavivirus, Immunization, Novartis AG, Pharmaceutical Business, Pharmaceutical Company, Vaccination, Vaccines, Viral, Virus, Novartis. This article was prepared by NewsRx editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, NewsRx.com.
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