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London, September 21
A phase one trial of a multivariant Covid-19 vaccine booster drug has started in participants over the age of 60 in the UK.
The trial, involving GRT-R910, was initiated by the US pharmaceutical company Gritstone in collaboration with the University of Manchester and the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. He will explore the drug’s potential to boost the immune response of first-generation Covid-19 vaccines against a wide range of Sars-Cov-2 variants, which cause Covid-19.
“We believe that GRT-R910 as a booster vaccination will elicit strong, long-lasting and broad immune responses, which will likely be essential to maintain the protection of this vulnerable elderly population which is particularly at risk of hospitalization and death,” said said Professor Andrew Ustianowski. , chief investigator of the study at North Manchester General Hospital.
“We now know that the immune response to first generation vaccines can decrease, especially in the elderly. Coupled with the prevalence of emerging variants, there is a clear need for continued vigilance to keep Covid-19 at bay, ”he said.
Part of Gritstone’s CORAL program, GRT-R910 is described as a second generation mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 – or SAM for short – that delivers antigens from proteins at the tip and not the tip.
“Our SAM Covid-19 vaccine is designed to generate robust CD8 + T cell responses, in addition to strong neutralizing antibody responses, offering the promise of longer lasting immunity,” said Andrew Allen MD, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Gritstone.
He added: “Since viral surface proteins such as spike protein evolve and sometimes partially evade vaccine-induced immunity, we designed GRT-R910 to have broad therapeutic potential against a wide range of SARS-CoV-2 variants while also delivering highly conserved viruses. proteins that may be less prone to genetic variation in the virus.
“Our hypothesis is that a different vaccine such as GRT-R910 could complement the primary immune response of a pre-existing vaccination with a first-generation Covid vaccine in such a way that it would provide more benefit than an additional dose of the same. vaccine”.
The trial will take place at the Manchester National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) clinical research facility at Manchester Royal Infirmary, part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), and will be carried out by the vaccine research and innovation team.
Supported by Health Innovation Manchester, the trial is expected to recruit 20 volunteers, with data evaluating the vaccine expected in the first quarter of 2022. Results of preclinical studies leading to vaccine development will be published jointly by Gritstone and the National Institutes of Health later in the year.
“We are extremely happy that this promising vaccine is being tested here in Manchester. As the only European site for this study, it is a testament to how our academic and clinical researchers have come together as part of the “One Manchester R&I” approach to answer questions the world needs answered, ”said said Professor Ian Bruce, Chairman of the Manchester Covid-19 Research Rapid Response Group (RRRG).
“Although the vaccine was tested in the 1960s, future studies will also examine its effectiveness in other vulnerable populations. If successful, we believe it has the potential to play an important role in the battle against Covid-19, which has so devastated vulnerable populations across the world, ”he said.
The study will examine the dose, safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of GRT-R910 at two dose levels at least four months after the second administration of their initial vaccine. GRT-R910 is also being investigated in a Phase 1 study sponsored by the US National Institute of Health. – PTI
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