MedImmune has announced that data from a preclinical study for its lead vaccine candidate to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus type-3 (PIV-3) has shown a protective immune response against both viruses in animals.
The results of the study, published in the October 2004 issue of the Journal of Virology, support the continued development of vaccine candidates to prevent these two leading causes of respiratory illness in young children. The data also serve as a platform for the development of other vaccines to protect infants from various respiratory infections. MedImmune is planning to file an investigative new drug application (IND) to begin clinical testing of a RSV/PIV-3 vaccine candidate as soon as the end of 2004.
According to the study, RSV-neutralizing antibodies were identified in African Green Monkeys following administration of a bivalent vaccine for RSV and PIV-3.
"We are encouraged by the results of the preclinical study and are hopeful that we will continue to receive positive data from our ongoing research with our PIV-3/RSV vaccine candidate," said Richard Spaete, Ph.D., senior research director at MedImmune. "Such results take us one step closer to developing vaccines that have the potential to prevent these serious pediatric respiratory viruses as well as others such as human metapneumovirus."