Tests for new version of flu vaccine

LONDON (Reuters) - Vaccine maker PowderJect Pharmaceuticals says it has started a Phase I clinical trial of a powder version of its top-selling flu vaccine Fluvirin.

The company, which has pioneered needle-free injections using powdered versions of drugs, said on Tuesday the trial would involve 36 healthy volunteers and focus on the vaccine's safety and ability to generate an immune

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response.

Flu is responsible for around 20,000 deaths in the United States each year and more than 100,000 hospitalisations.

Analysts expect the market for flu vaccine to grow from around $700 million (450 million pouns) to $1 billion in five years time. Fluvirin was the second-best selling flu vaccine in the world last year, with sales of around 67 million pounds.

PowderJect sold its most of its powder injection technology to U.S. pain management specialist AlgoRx Pharmaceuticals in March, but retained its use in vaccines.

A PowderJect spokesman said the powdered version of Fluvirin would cost around the same to make as a pre-filled syringe version, but would probably sell at a premium.

Drugs have to pass three phases of clinical trials before coming to market, a process which usually takes several years.

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