Covid Qld: UQ to begin human trials of Clamp2 vaccine
The second version of University of Queensland’s promising Covid-19 vaccine is about to enter human trials – and volunteers are wanted.
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The University of Queensland’s Clamp2 Covid-19 vaccine will soon be put to the test in human trials – with researchers putting the call out for volunteers to pilot the re-engineered jab.
The new version of the clamp will not go out to market to compete with other Covid-19 vaccines, but the technology could be rolled out in the future to safeguard against other pandemics.
As part of the human trial, 70 healthy participants aged between 18 and 50 will be needed – with half to be given the clamp vaccine and the other half to receive the TGA-approved Novavax jab.
Project leader Associate Professor Keith Chappell said he hoped the trial would determine that the UQ vaccine was just as safe and effective as the best vaccines available for Covid-19.
“After receiving the vaccines, participants in both groups will be monitored regularly for a period of six months, with appointments at the Nucleus Network clinic,” he said.
“We’re specifically looking for people that have had at least two doses of vaccine, but they can’t have had the vaccine in the last three months or be infected with the virus in the last three months.
“There will be an assessment to ensure the trial is right for them, there are no overnight stays required, and participants will be reimbursed for their time.”
Dr Chappell said the platform technology was suitable for a range of different viruses, including ebola, Covid-19, and avian flu.
“We want to use this platform to safeguard against future pandemics – and the idea being that if there is an outbreak of a new virus, that we can respond as quickly and effectively as we can,” he said.
The research team expects to get their first results from the six month trial within a month.
The original Covid-19 clamp vaccine had to be halted in 2020 after diagnostic interference issues were encountered – with recipients in a human trial falsely testing positive to HIV.
Dr Chappell said the clamp had been redesigned to avoid the use of any HIV sequences.
“So we’re completely confident that we’re not going to face the same issue this time around,” he said.
Dr Chappell described the setback during the development of the original clamp as “disappointing” after the research team poured everything they had into producing a vaccine.
But he said the team was “really excited” to be at the point they were now at with ‘Clamp2’.
Deputy Premier and State Development Minister Steven Miles said it was “hugely significant” the technology had been developed in Queensland.
“UQ’s Rapid Response Vaccine Pipeline team has demonstrated that the Clamp2 vaccine induces an equivalent immune response to a number of viruses, which is a fantastic step forward,” Mr Miles said.
More information on theUQ website
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