Theres also a lot of attention now on anthrax vaccines. What is being done?
NIH recently gave two contracts for the rapid development of a second-generation anthrax vaccine, which will be a recombinant vaccine against the so-called protective antigen of anthrax [a protein that helps anthrax toxins enter cells]. Antibody against this protein has been shown to be the dominant–perhaps the only–important factor in the current anthrax vaccine and the contracts went to VaxGen and to Avecia in the UK [see Industry Insider]. A recombinant vaccine would be an important step forward, since it could be produced and highly purified on a large scale. And it would be a very safe vaccine, and easy to control quality. How will it be tested for efficacy? Again, through the animal rule. In this case, the animal models, especially the monkey, are very good. What other new vaccines against potential bioterror agents are being developed? There’s been a very rapid surge in the bioterrorism business at NIAID. For smallpox, MVA is a first attempt at a safer vaccine. I think it will
