Clover Biopharmaceuticals initiates phase 1 study using GSK pandemic adjuvant in combination with COVID-19 vaccine candidate SCB-2019
The study initiation follows promising preclinical results which demonstrated the beneficial effect of GSKs pandemic adjuvant for the SCB-2019 vaccine candidate, with high neutralizing antibody levels elicited in multiple animal species.
Preliminary safety and immunogenicity results for the Phase 1 study are expected in August 2020. In parallel, the planning for a global Phase 2b/3 vaccine efficacy trial has begun, with initiation targeted later in 2020.
The use of an adjuvant is of particular importance in a pandemic situation since it can reduce the amount of protein required per dose, allowing more vaccine doses to be produced and made available to more people.
The research collaboration between GSK and Clover to develop a COVID-19 vaccine candidate was announced on 24th February 2020.