AVIAN FLU: BAXTER-AUSTRIA DEVELOPS A VACCINE AGAINST HUMAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 003279 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR OES/IHA, EUR/AGS DEPT OF HEALTH FOR LSAWYER USDA FOR FAS/CMP/DLP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU ASEC SENV EAGR EAID ECON WHO AU SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: BAXTER-AUSTRIA DEVELOPS A VACCINE AGAINST HUMAN H5N1 VIRUS REFS: A) VIENNA 696; B) 05 VIENNA 3865 THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Austrian-based research facility of the U.S. healthcare company Baxter has developed a vaccine against the current strains of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The vaccine has been successfully tested in mice and also with human subjects, yielding a protection rate between 70 and 95%. Baxter says it can now develop a vaccine against a pandemic influenza within 12 weeks once a virus is isolated. Several European governments, including Austria, have initiated "preparedness" or stockpiling contracts with Baxter to purchase the vaccine. The Austrian Government is also stockpiling antiviral drugs for "key personnel" to be treated in the event of an outbreak of a pandemic. Presently, the GoA does not see an immediate danger in the return of the bird flu virus to Europe but will remain vigilant. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On October 5, the Austrian subsidiary of the U.S. healthcare company Baxter announced that they had successfully tested a "candidate vaccine" against the potential pandemic H5N1 avian influenza virus. On October 25, Noel Barrett, Deputy Head of Baxter Austria and Science Director, provided EmbOffs and Regional Medical Officer an overview of Baxter's Avian Influenza (H5N1) vaccine development. VACCINE SUCCESSFULLY TESTED ON 3 DIFFERENT STRAINS -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) According to Barrett, Baxter can rapidly produce large-scale flu vaccines by using "Vero cell" cultures instead of traditional egg cultures. Barrett explained that Baxter had started to develop the vaccine in June 2006 at its Austrian and Singaporan facilities; both recorded successful results in September. The source of the vaccine is an isolate (H5N1 Vietnam 12/04) from a fatal human case. Animal testing in mice demonstrated that the vaccine was 100% protective against infection when the mice were exposed to the Vietnam strain and yielded 95% protection against another human strain of H5N1 (Indonesia 5/2005). Human trials with the vaccine have been conducted with 270 adult subjects. The vaccine produced protective antibody levels in 70% of the subjects and demonstrated 
similar tolerability and side effects compared to standard flu vaccines. ¶4. (U) Since the H5N1 strain that may ultimately cause pandemic influenza is likely to mutate, Baxter also tested the vaccine against other H5N1 strains that have been known to have caused human disease: Hong Kong 156/1997, the virus that caused the first known fatal human cases of H5N1; and the Indonesia 5/2005 strain mentioned above, which caused the first human to human transmitted case. The Baxter vaccine provided protection against the virus in 90% of the Hong Kong strain and 70-75% of the Indonesian strain. TWO MILLION DOSES READY WITHIN 12 WEEKS -------------- ¶5. (U) Based on its research, Baxter believes the vaccine is safe, has an excellent tolerability profile, is highly immunogenic, and can be used as pre-pandemic or stockpile vaccine. Barrett said that, given the biosafety level of the Baxter plants, the company can work with the authentic wild-type virus to produce the vaccine. This would allow Baxter to manufacture and deliver the first two million doses of a pandemic bird flu vaccine within 12 weeks of the isolation of a pandemic virus. ¶6. (SBU) According to Barrett, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Switzerland have concluded contracts with Baxter to stockpile the pre-pandemic vaccine and then purchase the pandemic specific vaccine when it is produced. Austria and other countries are negotiating "preparedness contracts" with Baxter to purchase a certain amount of the vaccine, should there be an outbreak of pandemic influenza. Austria plans to order 16 million doses to cover the entire population (two shots per person). However, the new government has yet to sign the contract. Barrett intimated that Austria could lose out, as Baxter only has the capacity to sign preparedness contracts with five countries. AUSTRIA'S PANDEMIC PLAN: VACCINES/MASKS FOR EVERYBODY -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) The Austrian General Health Director, Hubert Hrabcik, recently announced that the GoA has taken additional steps to VIENNA 00003279 002.2 OF 002 prepare for pandemic influenza. The GoA is stockpiling antiviral drugs ("Tamiflu" and "Zanavimir") to treat 25% of the population as a precaution against a possible pandemic. 20% of the planned stocks have been filled already. Hrabcik said that the antiviral drugs would help protect certain key personnel, such as physicians, health care workers, police, and specialized administrative personnel. Hrabcik also recommended stocking protective face masks to prevent transmission of H5N1. The GoA has stored 2.4 million masks for key personnel. ¶8. (U) Since 2005 the GoA has had an "Influenza Pandemic Plan" in place that foresees a strategy for the authorities beyond providing relevant medication to the public. A special crisis committee would convene in the event of an early warning by the WHO or a trigger by the EU Early Warning System. In each Austrian state the GoA would appoint a "pandemic hospital." Authorities would actively engage the media and would have the ability to close schools. NO BIRD FLU COMEBACK IN EUROPE? -------------- ¶9. (U) With regard to the veterinary situation, the Ministry of Health (MoH) maintains that avian influenza is currently not a priority issue. Regions from which infected birds could migrate, such as Siberia and the Danube Delta, have not reported cases since June 2006, the Ministry's chief veterinary expert Ulrich Herzog said. However, the authorities remain vigilant. The MoH is considering a limited obligation for farmers, living along rivers and lakes, to keep poultry inside during the migratory season. To date, 125 birds have tested positive for H5N1 in Austria, but the last infection was in April 2006. Phillips, CDA