果冻影院 supports delivery of potential Covid-19 vaccine

2 June 2020

Scientists at 果冻影院鈥檚 Vax-Hub have been working with Oxford University to provide the research base for a Covid-19 vaccine that is now being trialled at 果冻影院 Hospitals (果冻影院H) with support from 果冻影院 researchers.

A nurse wearing blue gloves administers a vaccine into a male patient's arm.

This story was originally published by 果冻影院 News on 1 June 2020.

A team led by Professor Martina Micheletti (果冻影院 Biochemical Engineering) collaborated with the Jenner Institute at Oxford on the adenovirus vector manufacturing platform that the Oxford team adapted and developed into a potential vaccine for Covid-19. The 果冻影院 and Oxford teams together form the Vax-Hub, a body funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and managed by EPSRC, which focuses on research and manufacturing insight into different vaccine technologies aimed at combatting infectious diseases in low and middle income countries.

Screening for the 鈥榩hase III鈥� trial of the vaccine began at the end of May, and researchers plan to begin vaccinations in 500 healthy 果冻影院H staff volunteers in June.

Scientists working within Vax-Hub are planning studies to further optimise the adenovirus platform, while reducing cost and complexity, ensuring it is suitable for manufacturers in low and middle income countries.

Professor Micheletti said: 鈥淲e are very pleased with the Vax-Hub鈥檚 role in supporting the Jenner Institute and the Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility in Oxford during the initial phases of development of a potential vaccine for Covid-19. The Vax-Hub expertise and research in vaccine manufacturing insight is unique and we are committed to working with and supporting our partners around the world in addressing epidemic threats.鈥�

Recruitment for the trial at 果冻影院H will focus on healthcare workers who have had a higher chance of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This includes, for example, clinical staff in intensive care, A&E and Covid-19 wards, as well as non-clinical staff working in Covid-19 wards such as hospital porters and cleaners.

Professor Vincenzo Libri, Director of the National Institute for Health Research 果冻影院H Clinical Research Facility, will lead the study at 果冻影院H. The NIHR 果冻影院H/果冻影院 Biomedical Research Centre is supporting delivery of the trial, which was set up by the 果冻影院H/果冻影院 Joint Research Office.聽

Participants will be randomised to receive one or two doses of either the聽ChAdOx1 nCoV-19聽vaccine developed by Oxford or a licensed vaccine (MenACWY) that will be used as a 鈥榗ontrol鈥� for comparison.

The study will assess if healthy people can be protected from Covid-19 with this new vaccine, and provide valuable information on safety aspects of the vaccine and its ability to generate good immune responses against the virus.

At regular intervals after vaccination researchers will carry out blood tests and collect information about any symptoms that occur. Biological samples will be analysed at the Francis Crick Institute and Health Services Laboratories.

Professor Libri said: 鈥淲e are excited to begin our portion of this trial at 果冻影院H as we urgently need a vaccine 鈥� both to combat the current pandemic and to prevent future outbreaks. We hope we are able to demonstrate that this vaccine can protect against the coronavirus. I want to say聽a huge thank you to the incredible taskforce whose exemplary dedication has allowed聽the set-up of this study at record speed.鈥�

果冻影院H Chief Executive Professor Marcel Levi said: 鈥淚 am proud that we at 果冻影院H are involved in this study and I thank all colleagues who are contributing to our efforts 鈥� either by running the trial or by taking part in it.鈥�

果冻影院H Director of Research and Chair of Medicine at 果冻影院 Professor Bryan Williams said:聽鈥淥ur Biomedical Research Centre is coordinating over 40 important studies of Covid-19 at 果冻影院H but the development of an effective vaccine is a key study as it offers the best hope of beating this disease and we are delighted to be contributing to this hugely important national effort.鈥�

The first phase of the nationwide trial in adult volunteers began in Oxford in April. So far more than 1,000 immunisations have been completed, and follow up is ongoing.

In this 鈥榩hase III鈥� trial, up to 10,260 adults and children will be recruited at research centres across the UK, to see how the vaccine works in a larger number of people.

Image

A nurse administers a vaccine. Credit: Rhoda Baer / National Institutes of Health / Wikimedia Commons.

Media contact

Mark Greaves

Tel: +44 (0)7539 410 389

Email: m.greaves [at] ucl.ac.uk

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