GSK and Chinese biotech unite for coronavirus vaccine development
British drugmaker GSK and Chinese biotech Clover Biopharmaceuticals have partnered to develop a protein-based coronavirus vaccine candidate.
GSK will provide Clover with its pandemic adjuvant system (which enhances the effectiveness of vaccines) for further evaluation of Clover’s candidate, COVID-19 S-Trimer, in preclinical studies.
Thomas Breuer, chief medical officer of GSK vaccines, said: “The use of an adjuvant is of particular importance in a pandemic situation since it may reduce the amount of vaccine protein required per dose, allowing more vaccine doses to be produced and therefore contributing to protect more people.”
The collaboration, announced yesterday, February 24, is one of a number publicised by pharmaceutical companies this month. Earlier this month, GSK also partnered with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to develop an effective vaccine.
Last week, LSIPR reported that Sanofi’s vaccine unit had united with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus.
Johnson & Johnson unit Janssen has also expanded an existing R&D agreement with HHS to speed up the development of an investigational vaccine, while Regeneron announced its own expanded collaboration with HHS, focused on developing antibody treatments for COVID-19.
Indian drugmaker Zydus Cadila has also launched a fast track programme to develop a vaccine for the virus.
Clover believes that, with one of the largest in-house, commercial-scale biomanufacturing capabilities in China, it could potentially rapidly scale-up and produce large quantities of a new coronavirus vaccine.
Steven Gong, vice president of business development and strategy at Clover, said: “We recognise that collaborations will be critical to accelerating the development of a successful new vaccine in times of emergency, and we continue to invite any interested regulatory, academic or industry parties to contact us for this noble common cause.”
Sister publication WIPR is running a live blog where you can find all the latest news on what COVID-19 means for IP.
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