The bird flu virus is just one of the many epidemics that have claimed hundreds of people’s lives. Such an epidemic will certainly not do any good to any country and its peoples that is why it needs to be prevented as soon as possible. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.

Looks like this is the aim of Human Health Services (HHS) that is why they are urging several drug makers to develop vaccines that will boost the immune system against the deadly bird flu. Under the leadership of Mike Leavitt, HHS awarded a five-year contact to three major drug manufacturers. GlaxoSmithKline PLC, a British drugmaker gets a $63.3 million contract and Novartis Vaccines as well as Diganotics Inc. gets a $54.8 million contract. But aside from this top three, Iomai Corp also acquires $14.4 million for the completion of their phase 1 clinical trial. If successful they might get an additional $114 million for further production.

All of these drug makers have a common denominator in the vaccines, which takes the name of adjuvant- an immune system booster.