The new drug delivery system is based on the company's GelSite polymer technology, a novel polysaccharide that incorporates inactivated whole virion antigens in a unique powder formulation that turns into a gel upon contact with the nasal fluids.
The race is on to find a suitable prevention for the deadly bird flu virus as it continues to creep across the globe. Over the past two years the virus has spread from South East Asia right through to Scotland and although the virus does not pass from person to person easily, it has killed over 100 people in its path already and experts fear it may soon mutate into a form that could be passed on among humans, causing a flu pandemic.
"By combining the whole virion antigen and nasal delivery with a unique enabling dry powder delivery system, called GelVac, this vaccine provides distinct advantages in meeting the critical needs for flu pandemic preparedness and epidemic control," DelSite said in a statement.
The main advantage of the dry powder vaccine is that it does not need cold storage as it is stable at room temperature - a huge benefit for developing countries where a bird flu pandemic is likely to originate, but electricity is often limited.
Furthermore, because the dry powder gels on contact with nasal fluid, the time the vaccine is in the nasal cavity is prolonged and the antigen release time is sustained, potentially providing enhanced viral protection, as well as inducing both mucosal and systemic responses, said DelSite.
In addition the vaccine is easy to use and could even be self administered if needed, said the firm.
The GelSite polymer is manufactured by Sabila Industrial, a subsidiary of Carrington located in Costa Rica and the GelVac vaccine is being developed by DelSite under a three year preclinical program that is being partially supported by a $6m (€4.7m) grant awarded in 2004 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Phase I trials for GelVac were completed in 2005 and DelSite plans to discuss the latest findings and development status of the vaccine at the second International Conference on Influenza Vaccines for the World (IVW) in Vienna, Austria, on October 19.