Clover Biopharmaceuticals Chooses Dynavax over GSK for COVID-19 Vaccine Adjuvant

China’s COVID-19 vaccine developer Clover Biopharmaceuticals has been testing two adjuvants, one from Dynavax and the other from GSK, on its vaccine in the early stages of trials. On February 1st, Clover decided to drop GSK and move forward with Dynavax to the later stage of trials.

Phase 1 Trial of S-Trimer

Clover’s COVID-19 vaccine, S-Trimer, is a trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-protein subunit vaccine candidate. In Phase 1 clinical trial, Clover studied 150 subjects, including adults and elderly, to investigate the safety, immunogenicity, and optimal dosages of the vaccine by giving two doses, 3 weeks apart. The trial also examined the validity and differences of vaccines with either Dynavax and GSK adjuvants.

In conclusion, Clover pointed out that both adjuvants facilitate S-Trimer to generate high levels of neutralizing antibodies and display great safety and tolerability without vaccine-related serious adverse events occurring in the trials.

But Why Pick Dynavax over GSK?

However, due to “the preclinical data showing protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in two animal species, the positive Phase 1 clinical trial results and scale-up manufacturing considerations”, Clover chose not to continue the partnership with GSK; further details were not disclosed.

The Phase 2/3 clinical trials of S-Trimer with Dynavax’s adjuvant CpG 1018 plus alum will start in the first half of 2021 and plans to deliver an interim analysis in the middle of 2021.

Chief Executive Officer of Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Joshua Liang, said “we are enthusiastic about progressing to a global Phase 2/3 efficacy study utilizing Dynavax’s advanced adjuvant CpG 1018 plus alum. We believe this vaccine candidate could be efficacious while potentially having a differentiated, beneficial reactogenicity and safety profile which could make it attractive for a broad population of peoples.”

Related Article: Lilly Teams up with GSK, Vir to Fight New COVID-19 Variants Using Antibody Combo

References

1. https://www.cloverbiopharma.com/2021/02/01/clover-biopharmaceuticals-announces-publication-of-phase-1-clinical-trial-data-for-its-adjuvanted-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-in-the-lancet/
2. https://www.cloverbiopharma.com/2021/02/01/clover-and-dynavax-announce-planned-global-phase-2-3-efficacy-trial-of-adjuvanted-covid-19-vaccine-candidate/

Author

Tyler Chen

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