Biotech firm gains on H1N1 vaccine study results

Quebec-based biotechnology company Medicago (TSX: V.MDG) announced results Tuesday from an immunogenicity study in mice with its new vaccine candidate for the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Medicago says results demonstrated that its H1 VLP vaccine induced a positive immune response in mice against the H1N1 influenza virus, eliciting the “production of hemagglutinin (HA)-inhibiting antibody in mice at levels that are generally considered to be protective after two doses of 5 micrograms,” says the company.

The vaccine must undergo clinical trials and receive all required approval by health authorities before it could be made available commercially, notes Medicago.

“These results, coupled with the speed of production of this new vaccine candidate, demonstrate that once approved, our plant-based VLP vaccine technology could be an effective approach against pandemic influenza,” said Andy Sheldon, president and CEO of Medicago.

“With our lead H5N1 vaccine candidate expected to commence human trials in the third quarter of this year, we look forward to delivering additional encouraging results and further confirming the potential of our proprietary technologies,” he added.

Shares of Medicago moved slightly higher Tuesday afternoon, climbing 5% to 31 cents.