UQ Covid vaccine shows positive results around effectiveness and manufacturability

A pre-clinical study on the University of Queensland Covid-19 vaccine candidate has produced “positive indications about its potential effectiveness and manufacturability” according to the university.

Animal trials have been conducted in the Netherlands by Viroclinics-DDL.

“The neutralizing immune response created by our molecular clamp vaccine in animal models was better than the average level of antibodies found in patients who have recovered from COVID-19,” said project co-leader Associate Professor Keith Chappell in a statement.

“In hamster models, the vaccine combined with the Seqirus MF59 adjuvant, provided protection against virus replication, and reduced lung inflammation following exposure to the virus.

“It also induces a strong T-cell response and showed strong results when it came to data relating to manufacturability.

“One of the big challenges in the development of vaccines is the ability to produce them at sufficient scale for widespread use.”

CSL is the maker of the MF59 adjuvant, and was announced as “trusted manufacturer” for UQ’s “molecular clamp” technology platform in June. 

The two organisations and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI, which has provided $15.16 million to develop the platform) are in a partnership to “rapidly advance production and move the program into later stage clinical testing, regulatory approval, large-scale manufacture and distribution if clinical trials prove successful.”

Picture: University of Queensland

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