U.S. launches next-generation universal vaccine platform for pandemic-prone viruses
LOS ANGELES, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) on Thursday announced the launch of Generation Gold Standard, a next-generation universal vaccine platform designed to combat pandemic-prone viruses.
The platform is based on a beta-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated, whole-virus approach - a modernized take on traditional vaccine technology, according to the NIH.
This initiative represents a decisive shift toward transparency, effectiveness, and comprehensive preparedness, funding the NIH's in-house development of universal influenza and coronavirus vaccines, including candidates BPL-1357 and BPL-24910, said the NIH in a release.
These vaccines aim to provide broad-spectrum protection against multiple strains of pandemic-prone viruses such as H5N1 avian influenza and coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS-CoV, according to the NIH.
"Generation Gold Standard is a paradigm shift," said NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. "It extends vaccine protection beyond strain-specific limits and prepares for flu viral threats - not just today's, but tomorrow's as well - using traditional vaccine technology brought into the 21st century."
Clinical trials for universal influenza vaccines are scheduled to begin in 2026, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval targeted for 2029, according to the NIH.
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