Novavax ‘s H5N1 vaccine candidate shows immunogenicity in preclinical study

Novavax (NVAX) announced preclinical data demonstrating that Novavax’s H5N1 avian pandemic influenza vaccine candidate, leveraging Novavax’s recombinant, protein-based nanoparticle technology and Matrix-M adjuvant, induced robust immune responses by either single or two-dose intranasal or intramuscular administration in nonhuman primates. Results were published in Nature Communications. Results showed that a single dose administered by either IN or IM routes induced neutralizing antibody responses at or above the 1:40 titer generally considered to be a protective antibody response. The data showed even higher levels of immunity after two doses. H5N1, a highly pathogenic and dynamic avian pandemic influenza virus, is of concern due to its potential to mutate into a strain adapted for sustained human-to-human transmission. To date, there have been 70 confirmed total reported human cases in the U.S., and one death associated with H5N1 avian pandemic influenza infection.