Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:DVAX) has announced that the first subjects have been doses in the first phase clinical study evaluating Clover Biopharmaceuticals’ COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The vaccine candidate is using boosters from GlaxoSmithKline and Dynavax adjuvant.
Clover launch COVID-19 study using Dynavax’s CpG 1018 adjuvant
Clover is among the Chinese biopharmaceutical companies that have moved to clinical trials to test a COVID-19 vaccine. The company launched its study in Australia and will test its COVID-19 S-Trimer (SCB-2019) vaccine candidate that contains Dynavax’s CpG 1018 adjuvant. The companies had previously announced a collaboration to develop a COVID-19 vaccine based on Clover’s novel Trimer-Tag vaccine platform. On the other hand, Dynavax was to offer the CpG 1018 agonist adjuvant that is a toll-like receptor 9.
Ryan Spencer, the CEO of Dynavax, stated that they were delighted to provide their CpG 1018 adjuvant to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. He added that the adjuvant can enhance immune response as it has successfully shown in HEPLISAV-B. Therefore it will minimize the dose of the antigen required as well as help enhance the availability of the vaccine to COVID-19 patients. Spencer added that the adjuvanted vaccine that Clover is testing will be vital to older people and adults having chronic conditions. This group is less responsive to vaccination and at greater risk of disease severity and COVID-19 related death.
Study to evaluate SCB-2019 in combination with other boosters
The trial will enroll 150 participants investigating the SCB-2019 alone and then in combination with Dynavax’s adjuvant and alum as well as SCB-2019 in combination with other boosters. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, first in human first phase study evaluates immunogenicity, safety, and reactogenicity of SCB-2019 at different dose levels. It will be administered as two intramuscular injections (IM) to the subjects.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is funding the study and Clover’s COVID-19 vaccine program through collaboration. The company expects to release initial immunogenicity and preliminary safety data of the study by August this year.
