Vir Biotechnology Announces Initiation of Phase 1 Clinical Trial to Evaluate a Novel Vaccine Platform
“We are pleased to have initiated the first Phase 1 trial to evaluate our T cell platform, which explores the potential for immune-programmed vaccines to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases like HIV,” said Herbert “Skip” Virgin, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Vir. “If observed, a programmed immune response could be a significant step forward in the fight against HIV and in the field of vaccines, with ramifications that could extend to other challenging areas like cancer immunotherapy.”
The randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 1 clinical trial is evaluating the safety and immunogenicity (ability to induce an immune response) of VIR-1111. The trial is enrolling healthy adults (ages 18 to 50) who are considered to be at low risk of HIV infection and who were previously infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). They will receive two doses of VIR-1111 or placebo given by subcutaneous injection and be assessed for safety, reactogenicity (common, expected adverse reactions following vaccination, such as pain and redness), tolerability and immunogenicity.
The viral vector technology that will be used in this trial was developed in a collaboration between Vir scientists and a team of OHSU scientists led by
“Along with the many OHSU investigators who worked on this project over the years, we are very excited that this new vaccine platform is being evaluated in a clinical trial,” Drs. Picker and Frueh said. “This marks the first time that this new type of vaccine is being tested in humans. If successful, this approach could provide an entirely new set of tools for vaccine development.”
Key publications highlighting the potential impact of this approach include:
- A live-attenuated RhCMV/SIV vaccine shows long-term efficacy against heterologous SIV challenge (Science Translational Medicine, 2019);
- Enhancing safety of cytomegalovirus-based vaccine vectors by engaging host intrinsic immunity (Science Translational Medicine, 2019);
- CD8+ T cell programming by cytomegalovirus vectors: applications in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination (Current Opinion in Immunology, 2017);
- Broadly targeted CD8+ T cell responses restricted by major histocompatibility complex E (Science, 2016); and
- Cytomegalovirus vectors violate CD8+ T cell epitope recognition paradigms (Science, 2013).
About VIR-1111
VIR-1111 is a subcutaneously administered HIV T cell vaccine based on HCMV that has been designed to elicit abundant T cells that recognize HIV epitopes in a way that differs from prior HIV vaccines.
About
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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “potential,” “aim,” “promising” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Vir’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding Vir’s collaboration with
Contact: InvestorsNeera Ravindran , M.D. VP, Head of Investor Relations& Strategic Communications nravindran@vir.bio +1-415-506-5256 MediaCara Miller VP, Corporate Communications cmiller@vir.bio +1-415-941-6746
Source: Vir Biotechnology, Inc.