TORONTO, June 18 /CNW/ - With the largest international conference on influenza getting underway in Toronto today, Microbix Biosystems Inc. of Toronto is anticipating that its flu vaccine yield enhancement discovery will be the subject of some considerable interest among the 1,500 delegates from all over the world.
Microbix announced late last month that the U.S. Patent Office has indicated that it intends to issue a patent to the company on this technology. As well, Microbix' discovery was recently reported in Vaccine, an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal.
"There has already been a lot of interest expressed as a result of our announcement last month, and we're looking forward to talking with vaccine manufacturers, public health officials and government representatives at the conference," said Microbix CEO William J. Gastle.
Delegates attending Options for the Control of Influenza at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, June 18-22, are leaders in the control, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of influenza.
Microbix' technology significantly boosts influenza vaccine production output. As a result of this discovery, there is now a relatively fast, simple, and cost-effective way to potentially double the amount of flu vaccine manufactured each year. The discovery has enormous implications for defending the human population from the next deadly outbreak of influenza.
The World Health Organization, in its Global Vaccine Action Plan, noted that if an influenza pandemic were to occur, the potential vaccine supply would fall far short of the amount needed. Annual global flu vaccine production capacity is currently about 350 million doses. Among all the strategies outlined in the WHO's Action Plan, increased production yields was identified as "the most direct mechanism to make more doses available." The Microbix process, if adopted worldwide, would increase capacity to at least 700 million doses.
The Microbix technology has been validated in independent testing. A study led by Dr. Todd Hatchette, Director of Virology and Immunology at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, confirmed that the process doubled the amount of virus recovered.
Gastle noted that the company's yield enhancement technology can be implemented by manufacturers in less than a year, and could even be in place in time for the flu season in 2008. "We're eager to play a role in extending vital vaccine protection to many millions of people around the world," he said.
The Options conference is taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building Exhibit Hall A, B, and C. Microbix' booth is No. 2314.
About Microbix
Microbix specializes in developing proprietary biological technologies, including biotherapeutic drugs, vaccine technologies and animal reproduction technologies. It has been researching and developing the flu vaccine yield enhancement technology for a number of years, with a team at the company's Toronto laboratories spearheading these efforts. The company's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and its stock symbol is MBX.
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements such as the risks associated with licensing the technology to vaccine manufacturers. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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