"There are limits to the current vaccine," said Sharon Frey, M.D., from Saint Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development. "You can't give Dryvax to people with certain skin conditions, such as eczema, or to people who are immunosuppressed. So, for example, if you are HIV-positive or undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, you shouldn't receive the currently licensed vaccine."
Dr. Frey said this study vaccine, known as MVA-BN and provided through Bavarian Nordic, is different than other vaccines that are now available. Like the current vaccines, the study vaccine is a live-virus vaccine made from vaccinia virus, but this study vaccine contains a much more "attenuated," or weakened, form of the virus.
"The thinking is that the study vaccine is much more attenuated, therefore the side effects should be less. So the hope is you may be able to give it to someone who is immunosuppressed. These are some of the questions we'll be studying as we start testing this investigational drug. If our studies prove successful, we hope this vaccine can be given to people for whom Dryvax is contraindicated."
MVA-BN also is administered in a different way. Dryvax is administered using a method called scarification, in which the skin is poked with a bifurcated needle just enough to puncture the skin. The study vaccine being tested will be administered intramuscularly, as a flu shot is given, or subcutaneously between the skin and muscle, as an insulin shot is given.
The study will enroll 90 adult volunteers into six different groups. MVA-BN will be given in three different dose strengths alone or in combination with Dryvax. The study i
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Contact: Joe Muehlenkamp
muehlenk@slu.edu
314-977-8015
Saint Louis University
10-May-2004