Singapore's first H1N1 flu vaccine has reached the first phase of clinical trials.

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and Switzerland's Cytos Biotechnology AG announced on Friday that the first healthy volunteer has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial with their H1N1 influenza vaccine.

In this first phase of clinical trial, the safety and immunogenicity of the novel vaccine will be tested, as well as its potential to protect against H1N1 influenza infection.

Researchers are taking a different approach towards the development of the vaccine, which is much faster, cheaper and safer compared to conventional methods. If successful, it could pave the way for producing vaccines for other types of new emerging viruses.

This new vaccine would also mean a big step towards safeguarding Singapore and the region with an independent supply of flu vaccines. A*Star is developing the vaccine under a collaborative research, development and commercialisation agreement with Cytos.