Australian company says initial trials show its vaccine protects fowl from bird flu

An Australian pharmaceutical firm that specializes in developing vaccines for animals, Imugene Ltd., announced Monday successful preliminary trials of a vaccine that protects fowl from bird flu.

Similar vaccines are already on the market and in wide use.

The company said its bird vaccine provided protection for seven of 11 vaccinated birds against a strong dose of the highly pathogenic Asian strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus.

"These are very positive results from a first proof of concept trial," Imugene managing director Dr. Warwick Lamb said.

The next stages in developing a commercial vaccine will be partially funded by a 880,000 Australian dollar (US$681,000; euro528,000) federal government grant. Imugene has not said when a vaccine is likely to become available.

The company's shares closed up 12.5 percent Monday.