Although the media have not paid much attention to avian flu recently, research into an H5N1 avian flu vaccine continues. Results of a phase I and phase II trial on a new human vaccine against H5N1 bird flu virus made from cell culture instead of embryonated eggs show that it is safe and effective against a number of divergent strains. This new process is less expensive and produces vaccine faster than conventional methods.

• Dr. Hartmut Ehrlich, MD, vice president of global research and development for Baxter BioScience