Avant begins phase 1/2 clinical trial of typhoid vaccine

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., Feb. 14 - Avant Immunotherapeutics, Inc. said it started the a placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 1/2 study of its typhoid fever vaccine candidate, Ty800. The vaccine is designed to offer rapid, oral, single-dose protection against Salmonella typhi, the cause of typhoid fever.

Sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, the clinical trial is being conducted at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, according to a company news release.

The phase 1/2 in-patient dose-escalating clinical trial is to determine the safety and immunogenicity of the single-dose, oral Ty800 vaccine.

Avant said the trial will evaluate three escalating dose levels of the vaccine in about 54 healthy adult volunteers. Each subject will be followed for six months post-vaccination.

"The development of a safe and effective typhoid fever vaccine is important for protecting residents, travelers and military personnel from typhoid fever in endemic areas," president and chief executive officer Una S. Ryan said in the release.

"We see the initiation of this trial as serving the dual role of addressing a significant health issue in the developing world and advancing development of Avant's extensive bacterial vaccine franchise."

The company also has conducted advanced clinical studies of its single-dose, oral cholera vaccine, CholeraGarde, and has enterotoxigenic E. coli ETEC, Shigella and Campylobacter vaccines in preclinical development.

Avant, based in a Needham, Mass., discovers and develops vaccines and therapeutics to prevent and treat disease.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.