The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) awarded $7.1 million grant funding to an Oxford University study assessing if COVID-19 vaccine regimens can be mixed.
These funds will complement $3 million of funding already granted from the U.K. government and support from the National Institute for Health Research. With the Moderna and Novavax vaccines eyed in particular, the study — known as COM-COV2 — will enroll trial participants over 50 years old who have already received either the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine as their first vaccination in the past 8-12 weeks.
“Understanding how we might be able to ‘mix and match’ vaccines will be an important factor to consider when planning global vaccination distribution, as supplies of various vaccines will inevitably ebb and flow in the coming months,” Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said. “CEPI’s funding will expand this study to test combinations of four different vaccines that will be distributed through COVAX, and we hope that the data generated will give COVAX greater flexibility when allocating doses to participating countries which could speed up vaccination campaigns.”
Known as heterologous prime-boost vaccination, this mix and match approach to vaccination will be assessed for the immune responses produced. This analysis will then be compared to results from previous clinical trials of each vaccine individually. Data to support the use of mix and match vaccination is still needed to determine the immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety such efforts could elicit.
“This world-first clinical trial will give us the vital information we need to help us protect the country and support the international response against this virus in the longer term,” Nadhim Zahawi, U.K. Vaccines Minister, said. “I am delighted that, through the NIHR, we are joining forces with CEPI to invest a further £7.1 million into mix and match vaccine trials at Oxford University – which is one of the world’s leading research sites and host of the G7 Health Ministers’ meetings next month. This is on top of £7 million we have already invested in the study to future-proof this country.”