Biotechnology company INOVIO dosed its first participant in a Phase 2 trial of a DNA vaccine for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
MERS, another coronavirus disease, is far deadlier than COVID-19, with a kill rate of approximately 34 percent. Fortunately, though, its transmission rate has proven much lower. Patients often experience fever, cough, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Believed to have originated from bats and spread by close contact with infected people, it remains a disease of concern, particularly given that there are no currently approved vaccines.
INOVIO seeks to feel that gap through INO-4700, a DNA vaccine candidate administered through CELLECTRA 2000. Its safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity are being tested on approximately 500 healthy volunteers in a randomized, double-blinded study sponsored by the company and funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
“We are pleased to collaborate with CEPI to combat one of the most virulent pathogens of the coronavirus family for which there is no approved vaccine,” Dr. J. Joseph Kim, president and CEO of INOVIO, said. “This advancement not only complements our late-stage efforts with COVID-19, but it also represents an important milestone for INOVIO’s infectious disease platform. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CEPI and moving another step closer to providing patients with a safe and effective preventive vaccine against MERS.”
CEPI has put up $56 million in grant funding for this vaccine and another for Lassa fever, which will take both through Phase 2 testing. Positive results from Phase 1 found the vaccine to spur high levels of binding antibodies in 92 percent of patients from a trial of 62 people. It generated exceedingly high responses.
“I’m delighted to see the progress made by INOVIO in its MERS vaccine program,” Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said. “As we’ve seen with COVID-19, coronaviruses pose a significant threat to global health. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, CEPI had identified the MERS coronavirus, in particular, as an epidemic threat and partnered with INOVIO in 2018 to advance its promising vaccine candidate.”
The study is being conducted in Jordan and Lebanon. If successful, INOVIO and CEPI plan to begin stockpiling doses of the vaccine candidate for emergency use.