Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., a leading developer of needle-free drug delivery systems, has announced that the National Institutes of Health ("NIH") is utilizing the Biojector 2000 (B2000) in its first human trial of a DNA vaccine designed to prevent H5N1 avian influenza infection.

The vaccine was administered to the first volunteer a few weeks ago at the NIH clinical centre in Bethesda, MD.

The study will enrol 45 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 60. Fifteen will receive placebo injections and 30 will receive three injections of the investigational vaccine over two months and will be followed for one year. Volunteers will not be exposed to influenza virus.

"We're pleased to be working with the NIH and for it choosing our needle free injection technology for such an important clinical study and the advancement in medicine. It is a clinical advantage to be able to offer this vaccine with a needle free delivery system thus making it safer for patients and clinicians. We have found that it might potentially provide a therapeutic benefit from improved immunogenicity as we have seen with other vaccines," said Richard R Stout MD, vice president clinical affairs at Bioject. "The NIH is also using the B2000 needle free system with its DNA HIV vaccines that are currently in clinical trials throughout the world."

Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., based in Portland, Oregon, is an innovative developer and manufacturer of needle-free drug delivery systems. Needle-free injection works.