Covid, from Medicago-Gsk plant vaccine “positive data at any age”

Good news for Medicago’s plant-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate, tested in combination with Gsk’s pandemic adjuvant. Phase 2 clinical trials obtained “positive data”, including similar antibody responses in adults and the elderly after two doses; levels of neutralizing antibodies 10 times higher than those of people cured of coronavirus infection; no related serious side effects. This was reported by Medicago, a biopharmaceutical company based in Quebec City in Canada, and the British GlaxoSmithKline (Gsk). The data – a note details – are part of the ongoing phase 2/3 clinical study and confirm the promising profile observed during the phase 1 tests. Immunogenicity, measured by the titre of the neutralizing antibody, was high: about 10 times that of a select group of sera from patients recovering from Covid-19. No related serious adverse events were reported, and reactogenicity was generally mild to moderate and short-lived. Results of the phase 3 trial, launched on March 16, are now awaited. The centers involved are enrolling individuals in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil, with more sites expected to be added in the coming weeks. The vaccine candidate received Fast Track designation from the FDA in the United States, and Health Canada has initiated a review of the data. “We are very excited to see such positive results from the Phase 2 data. After two doses, the adjuvanted vaccine candidate induced robust neutralizing antibodies and cellular immune responses in all subjects, regardless of age,” says Nathalie Landry, Executive Vice President, Business Medicago – These findings give us confidence as we continue to move forward with our Phase 3 clinical trial. We hope to add another tool in the global fight against Covid-19, particularly as cross-protection emerges as a consideration important in vaccination efforts around the world “.” We are pleased to see that the results suggest a very strong immune response – said Thomas Breuer, Chief Medical Officer, Gsk Vaccines – Medicago’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate combined with Gsk’s pandemic adjuvant has been well tolerated, reinforcing its potential benefits. looks forward to the outcome of the ongoing Phase 3 trial on this refrigerator stable vaccine candidate as the next step in our contribution to the global response to the pandemic. “