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October 16, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Firm to Do Human Tests of New Anthrax Vaccine"

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (10/16/02) P. E5; Merle, Renae

Human testing of a new anthrax vaccine developed by DynPort Vaccine Co. is scheduled to begin at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Rockville, Md., within a few weeks, although final approval by the Food & Drug Administration is not anticipated until 2010.  DynPort President Terry R. Irgens noted that "protection against potential future biological attacks continues to be a key concern of our nation's leaders" as the company moves forward to improve on the vaccine originally produced by BioPort of Lansing, Mich.  DynPort's vaccine is manufactured from a non-lethal strain of anthrax, and though some doctors say that it could include contaminants that cause side effects, DynPort officials note they are using a process that should prevent contamination.  Low doses will be used in the early tests, said Robert Hopkins, director of clinical research at DynPort, and tests of the vaccine's effectiveness for preventing anthrax will begin later.

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