The world's first testing centre aiming to fast-track coronavirus vaccines into use is being launched by UK life sciences company Open Orphan.
The London-based firm announced today its subsidiary hVIVO is developing a 'Controlled Human Infection Model' which will be based at its 24-bedroom quarantine clinic with on-site virology lab. The aims will be to test vaccines and anti-viral drugs on volunteers exposed to types of coronavirus similar to Covid-19, to find out which would be more effective against the current outbreak.
It is in talks with representatives of Chinese pharmaceutical partner companies who are being invited to invest in the project with the promise of royalties in return for their investment. Proof-of-concept tests will be carried out on various vaccines using more common strains from the same family as Covid-19, such such as OC43 and 229E.
Professor John Oxford, chairman of Open Orphan's Scientific Advisory Board, was in 2009 given permission from the Government to bring the SARS virus into the UK in order to find a solution to the outbreak.
He said: "A couple of years ago, the hVIVO Scientific team started a project to potentially develop a coronavirus challenge study model but after a certain amount of work and effort they suspended this project because they didn't see sufficient market demand for a Coronavirus challenge study model.
"However, in recent weeks, the hVIVO scientific team led by their Chief Scientist Andrew Catchpole have reopened their coronavirus challenge study project and work files. Given the unfortunate circumstances of Covid-19 now spreading around the world they and I felt that there was an obligation on us to reactivate the project and to do our best to now swiftly and effectively make a Coronavirus challenge study model available to the market as soon as possible."
