India and California Partners Launch COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1 Study

Serum Institute of India, Ltd. (SIIPL) and Dynavax Technologies Corporation announced that the first participants had been dosed in the Phase 1 part of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating SIIPL's vaccine candidate adjuvanted with CpG 1018 to prevent COVID-19.

Ryan Spencer, CEO of Dynavax, commented in a press release, "We are pleased to be partnering with Serum Institute of India to advance their approach to leverage a VLP utilizing the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-COV-2 spike protein. We believe that continued development of multiple programs is critical to ensure the availability of safe and effective vaccines that can protect the global population from this devastating disease in the near term and for years to come."

The Phase 1/2 clinical trial will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of SIIPL's vaccine candidate consisting of the SARS-COV-2 coronavirus receptor-binding domain delivered as a virus-like particle, along with Dynavax's advanced adjuvant CpG 1018 plus alum.