Chinese firm Sinovac said Monday a phase 1 trial indicates its pandemic influenza vaccine is safe and induces an immune response. The company said it is working with Chinese authorities to prepare for a phase 2 trial of the vaccine, known as Panflu. The vaccine is an inactivated whole virus vaccine Sinovac hopes will protect against the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

In the phase 1 trial, 120 healthy volunteers received Panflu. All four different dosages of the vaccine induced an immune response, but the 10 ug dose was determined to yield the best response because it was associated with a 78.3 percent sero positive rate.

None of the volunteers developed serious adverse reactions. Blood and urine tests, clinical biochemistry tests and observations of systemic and local adverse reactions indicated the vaccine was well-tolerated.

Sinovac also said it will expand its vaccine manufacturing plant so it has the capability to produce 20 million doses of Panflu per year. The project is expected to be completed in 2007.