U.S. starts trial on potential universal flu vaccine

The Phase 1 clinical trial of a novel influenza vaccine has begun inoculating healthy adult volunteers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, the NIH announced on Tuesday.

The placebo-controlled trial will test the safety of a candidate vaccine, BPL-1357, and its ability to prompt immune responses, according to the NIH.

The vaccine candidate was developed by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The trial can enroll up to 100 people aged 18 to 55 years.

"Influenza vaccines that can provide long-lasting protection against a wide range of seasonal influenza viruses as well as those with pandemic potential would be invaluable public health tools," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci.

"The BPL-1357 candidate influenza vaccine being tested in this clinical trial performed very well in pre-clinical studies and we look forward to learning how it performs in people," Fauci said.