The Boston Business Journal has alerted us to the existence of Replikins, a local biotech company claiming to have a swine flu vaccine ready for testing. The synthetic peptide H1N1 vaccine was created using sub-sequences of the virus and modern peptide synthesis techniques. CDC spokesman Tom Skinner told the BBJ, “We should know by the end of May which institution has the most success growing a seed virus.” Testing would take time, and a vaccine would probably not be available before fall. Replikins' vaccine is not currently undergoing testing. There have been 115 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in Massachusetts thus far.
Whatever your thoughts on presidential candidate/political rock star Barack Obama borrowing a few points of Deval Patrick's rhetoric, you have to think it's good for the Governor. He's getting nation-wide press and it's not his fault that his speeches are so catchy and profound that Obama can't help copying them.
