A new antirabies virus vaccine cultured in human diploid cells has produced total immunization in several animal species, two Wistar Institute investigators report.
Human testing, utilizing prison volunteers, may be conducted before the end of the year, according to Tadeusz J. Wiktor, DVM, of the Philadelphia research unit.
Working with Hilary Koprowski, MD, director of Wistar Institute, and other investigators, Dr. Wiktor has been conducting extensive investigations of the vaccine for nearly three years.
In terms of both antibody production and protection against rabies challenges the vaccine has been effective with mice, guinea pigs, dogs, and monkeys.
It has several distinct potential advantages over current methods of vaccine production and therapy:
Significant antibodies were produced in many experimental animals within seven days.
Only one to three inoculations have been required to produce immunization.
The human diploid cells, derived from normal fetal lung tissue, are apparently devoid of malignant properties and