Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd., a global clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel vaccines and biologic therapeutic candidates, announced that an investigator-led, Phase 2 trial initiated to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of heterologous and homologous COVID-19 booster vaccines. Clover’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, SCB-2019 (CpG 1018/Alum), will be assessed as a heterologous booster dose in individuals previously vaccinated with either CoronaVac or recombinant Covid-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca/Fiocruz).
The Phase 2 trial is an investigator initiated study, sponsored by IDOR with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The study is a double blind, randomized, controlled design that will be conducted in two stages. Stage one will evaluate three formulations of SCB-2019 (9µg with alum, 9µg with CpG 1018/alum, and 30µg with CpG 1018/alum), administered as a booster dose, approximately 6 months after the primary vaccination with recombinant Covid-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca/Fiocruz). The purpose of this stage is to define the optimal vaccine formulation in comparison to a homologous booster of recombinant Covid-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca/Fiocruz). Stage two will evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a booster dose of selected SCB-2019 formulation in individuals previously vaccinated with 2 doses of either CoronaVac or recombinant Covid-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca/Fiocruz). Homologous boosters of CoronaVac or recombinant Covid-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca/Fiocruz) will be used as controls.
The study is anticipated to enroll approximately 520 healthy adult participants in multiple study locations in Brazil. Safety and immunogenicity data are expected in the first half of 2022 and the results will be published as guidance for optimizing booster dose regimens.
Joshua Liang, Chief Executive Officer of Clover Biopharmaceuticals said, “We are excited to learn how our COVID-19 vaccine candidate performs as a booster dose for people previously vaccinated with either inactivated or adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccines. SPECTRA trial data (reported in September 2021) showed that vaccination with SCB-2019 (CpG 1018/Alum) in individuals previously-infected by SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated a rapid and strong boosting effect on neutralizing antibody titers, as well as a favorable safety profile, thus supporting the evaluation of our COVID-19 vaccine candidate as a potential booster vaccine. We want to thank the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the Institutional Review Bords for their guidance and the opportunity to participate in this trial, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for funding the study and IDOR for sponsoring the study.”
Prof. Dr. Sue Ann Costa Clemens, CBE, Oxford Vaccine Group Director, Brazil Unit and Principal Investigator of the grant stated, “Booster doses are being widely used to ensure high protection against variants and durability of immunity. That increases the demand for vaccines. Clover is exploring new possibilities on higher protection and higher production capacity. The protein based vaccines will add a new perspective to the public health needs with regards to the COVID-19 booster demands.”
About Clover Biopharmaceuticals
Clover Biopharmaceuticals is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing novel vaccines and biologic therapeutic candidates. The Trimer-Tag™ technology platform is a product development platform for the creation of novel vaccines and biologic therapies. Clover leveraged the Trimer-Tag™ technology platform to become a COVID-19 vaccine developer and created SCB-2019 (CpG 1018/Alum) to address the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2.
