Universal flu vaccine biotech seeks Big Pharma partnership for phase 3 testing: CEO

Problems with seasonal flu shots have been well documented, and now U.K. biotech Imutex believes it has the next big advance for flu vaccine technology. The company this week reported phase 2b data showing that its universal flu shot, FLU-v, boosted immune responses and lowered infection rates. Imutex is a joint venture between clinical research specialist hVIVO and drug development organization SEEK Group; the team has been working on its universal flu vaccine candidate for 14 years, SEEK CEO Gregory Stoloff told FiercePharma. He said that with the results, the team is ready to head into phase 3 testing and is in discussions with Big Pharma players for a potential partnership. While the group could take its shot to late-stage testing itself through grants, Stoloff said a pharma partnership makes more sense because a large drugmaker would already have late-stage testing capabilities established.