Harris and Trump make final push in must-win Pennsylvania    Drones and snipers on standby to protect Arizona vote-counters    India's Modi condemns violence after Canada temple incident    Elon Musk can keep giving $1m to voters, judge rules    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    Tourism Development Fund launches "Tourism Empowerment" programs to enhance sustainable growth of SMEs    Saudi crown prince, Tunisian president review bilateral relations in phone call    SFDA Chief visits premier biotechnology and medical firms in China    Al-Khereiji: Collective action in combating terrorism is a must for achieving stability and prosperity    Saudi Awwal Bank becomes the Kingdom's first bank obtaining ISO certification for quality management system in operations    10 cooperation agreements signed during Saudi-Turkish Business Forum in Istanbul    Saudi Arabia's non-oil revenues grow 6% in 9 months while Q3 budget posts SR30 billion deficit    Quincy Jones, titan of US music, dies aged 91    Enhancing zakat, tax, and customs compliance takes center stage at the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Conference 2024    Neymar expected to join Al Hilal squad for AFC clash against Esteghlal, says coach Jesus    Al Qadsiah secure 2-0 victory over Al Ettifaq in first Eastern Derby since 2021    Hidden sugars in Asia's baby food spark concerns    HONOR unveils pre-order of the stunning HONOR MagicBook Art 14 Featuring an ultra-slim design, HONOR Eye Comfort Display and AI Cross-OS WorkStation    Teri Garr, Young Frankenstein and Tootsie star, dies at 79    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Experts hope H1N1 will spur effort on universal jab
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 02 - 10 - 2009


The H1N1 swine flu pandemic should
spur pharmaceutical researchers to renew efforts to develop a
universal flu vaccine and rethink ways of dealing with future
pandemics, Reuters quoted scientists as saying today.
Flu experts from the World Health Organisation, Swiss drug
giant Novartis AG, the U.S. National Institutes of Health and
others noted that the arrival of H1N1 had prompted a jump in the
potential output of vaccine manufacturing to 900 million doses
from 400 million.
But in a letter to the journal Science, they urged drug and
health industries to be more proactive in developing and
distributing vaccines -- and in particular to speed up the
search for a universal flu vaccine.
"Although the H1N1 pandemic has the potential to cause a
social and economic emergency, it also provides an opportunity to
rethink our approach to influenza virus disease and to develop
more effective vaccines and economically sustainable solutions
for developing and developed countries," they wrote. "Research
toward development of a universal vaccine should be
accelerated."
A universal flu vaccine which would combat all strains of
the virus has so far eluded pharmaceutical firms and scientists.
Inovio Biomedical Corp, which is working on such a vaccine,
said this week that it expects initial evidence early next year
on whether the technology it is using can help to fight
diseases.
Johnson & Johnson, the world's biggest diversified health
care company, recently bought a stake in Dutch biotech firm
Crucell partly to get hold of flu-mAb, a universal antibody
engineered to prevent and treat infections from various
influenza A strains.
The swine flu outbreak was declared a pandemic in June and
has already infected millions of people around the world.
Drugmakers and governments have been scrambling to make and
supply vaccines targeting the new H1N1 strain before a feared
second wave of infection hits as the northern hemisphere heads
into winter.
The flu experts, including Dr David Salisbury, director of
immunisation at Britain's Department of Health, and Dr John
Treanor, who tests flu vaccines at the University of Rochester
Medical Center in New York, criticised the current approach to
flu as "reactive rather than anticipatory".
"We have already learned a great deal about fighting
influenza, but we need to move from a reactive to a proactive
and sustainable stance," they wrote.
They said better flu surveillance methods were needed in
developing countries to understand how such viruses circulate
globally and affect morbidity and mortality.
They also proposed strengthening epidemiological studies in
developing countries to try to fill "knowledge gaps" about the
virus, including the role of antibodies, immune memory, and
T-cells that recognise and destroy viruses.


Clic here to read the story from its source.