Positive phase 3 results reported in trial for new Covid-19 vaccine

A clinical trial which took place at Cambridge University Hospitals for a new vaccine against Covid-19 has received positive Phase 3 results.

The trial has been taking place at 22 locations across the UK and was supported at the Cambridge site by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cambridge Clinical Research Facility and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.

Developed by the French specialty vaccine company Valneva and manufactured in Scotland, the vaccine is the only inactivated, adjuvanted Covid-19 vaccine in clinical development in Europe. This means, that like flu and polio vaccines, it contains dead versions of the virus that cannot cause disease.

The pivotal Phase 3, Cov-Compare trial recruited a total of 4012 participants aged 18 years and over, and 660 adolescents.

Results show that the vaccine was successful in producing high levels of neutralising antibodies against the disease.

Participants aged over 30 also reported fewer side effects within seven days of receiving the jab when compared to other vaccines, and no serious side effects were recorded.

Dr Effrossyni Gkrania-Klotsas, a consultant in infectious diseases at CUH and the local Principal Investigator for the trial said:  “I am very pleased that we have been able to contribute to the development of another well-tolerated and effective vaccine option.

“We are very lucky to have a great NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility that is extremely efficient in running vaccination trials, as well as a clinical team with extensive experience now from multiple vaccines. This is an investment towards future vaccine trials on the campus.”

Adam Finn, Professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, and Trial Chief Investigator added: “This is a much more traditional approach to vaccine manufacture than the vaccines so for developed in the UK, Europe and North America and these results suggest this vaccine candidate is on track to play and important role in overcoming the pandemic.”

Thomas Lingelbach, chief executive officer of Valneva said the results confirm the advantages which are often associated with inactivated whole virus vaccines.

He added: “We are committed to bringing our differentiated vaccine candidate to licensure as quickly as possible and continue to believe that we will be able to make an important contribution to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. We are keen to propose an alternative vaccine solution for people who have not yet been vaccinated.”

Valneva hopes to initially get the jab approved for those aged between 18 and 55.

To find more visit the Valneva study website.