US pledges $US1 billion for swine flu vaccine May 23, 2009
THE United States will invest $US1 billion ($1.28 billion) to develop key components for a swine flu vaccine and conduct clinical studies into its efficacy, Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.
The money will come from already existing funds and will be used to place orders with companies licensed to produce flu vaccine for antigens - the ingredient in a vaccine that causes the body to develop antibodies - and adjuvants, which boost the body's immune response.
Part of the funding will be used to prepare pilot lots of vaccine for use in clinical studies to determine the proper dose for a vaccine against (A)H1N1 flu, the Department of Health said.
Based on the outcome of the clinical tests, pharmaceutical companies could decide to add adjuvants, which would allow them to reduce the amount of antigen necessary for the body to fight an invading virus.
"The actions we are taking today will help us be prepared if a vaccine is needed," Ms Sebelius said.
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