Dutch chemical group Akzo Nobel said today it was working on the development of a human vaccine against bird flu strain H5N1.
The company said in a statement the vaccine would enter clinical studies in 2006. There is currently no vaccine against bird flu in humans.
"The current situation in Europe highlights the urgent need for a human vaccine against this potentially lethal infection," said Toon Wilderbeek, Akzo Nobel board member responsible for pharmaceuticals.
"We are active on a number of fronts regarding the production of human and animal vaccines to counter this particular threat," he said.
No human cases of bird flu have been reported in Europe, but Greece is testing poultry for a suspected case of the H5N1 strain that has killed more than 60 people in Asia.
There is growing concern in Europe about the disease, which has the potential to mutate and cause a pandemic among humans.