GSK, Medicago Collaborate on Covid-19 Vaccine Candidate

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Medicago have announced a collaboration for the development and evaluation of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The collaboration was revealed in a July 7, 2020 press release.

The candidate vaccine will combine Medicago’s recombinant coronavirus virus-like particles (CoVLP) with GSK’s pandemic adjuvant system. Phase I clinical trials are anticipated to begin in mid-July 2020 to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of three different dose levels of antigen combined with GSKs pandemic adjuvant and in parallel with an adjuvant from another company. Administration of the therapy will be done on a one- and two-dose vaccination schedule, given 21 days apart.

If the clinical development is successful and the therapy passes regulatory considerations, the companies aim to have a vaccine available in the first half of 2021. Additionally, further work may be done in the development of a post-pandemic vaccine COVID-19 candidate, if the need arises.

“This agreement paves the way for an innovative vaccine option combining a scalable plant-based antigen technology with an adjuvant which has pandemic dose sparing capability. If successful, it will be a meaningful contributor in the fight against COVID-19,” said Thomas Breuer, chief medical officer, GSK Vaccines, in the press release. “We strongly believe that multiple vaccines are needed, including post-pandemic vaccines. This plant-based technology also shows promise beyond COVID-19 and has the potential to help prevent other infectious diseases.”

“We are about to begin clinical trials with our CoVLP vaccine candidate harnessing GSKs pandemic adjuvant technology against the virus that causes COVID-19,” added Bruce Clark, president and CEO of Medicago, in the press release. “This collaboration with GSK gives us access to a proven adjuvant which could enhance the effectiveness of our candidate vaccine, and also to a depth of scientific experience to support our development efforts.”

Source: GSK