Universal flu vaccine enters phase 1 trial
A flu vaccine designed to protect against a different strain of virus — and eliminate the annual flu vaccine guessing game — has entered phase 1 clinical trials. A new vaccine candidate, designed to fight avian influenza or bird flu viruses, has been administered to healthy adult volunteers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, the NIH announced. Researchers have long sought a universal flu vaccine to fight a rapidly mutating virus — not only to cover our base each flu season but also potentially pre-empt the next pandemic flu strain. “Influenza vaccines that can provide long-term protection against a variety of seasonal influenza viruses as well as those with pandemic potential would be an invaluable public health tool,” said President Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Chief Medical Advisor. A new universal flu vaccine candidate is entering human trials to test its safety and imm