CEPI to Fund Late-Stage COVID-19 Vaccine Trial From Clover Biopharmaceuticals

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has agreed to fund development of a potential COVID-19 vaccine from China’s Clover Biopharmaceuticals with a global phase 2/3 study and through licensing and distribution.

The funding announcement brings CEPI’s total investment in the candidate vaccine to $328 million, building off the $69.5 million investment announced in July. The newly announced late-stage study is set to begin before year’s end and will include unique populations, such as patients with autoimmune and immunocompromised conditions, pregnant women and children, the non-profit organization said.

The agreement will fund Clover’s coronavirus spike protein-targeting vaccine candidate, SCB-2019, through licensing in China and distribution by COVAX, the World Health Organization-backed initiative aimed at supplying 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines globally by the end of 2021 that CEPI is running.

Earlier this year, CEPI provided $3.5 million for an initial trial of SCB-2019 in Australia that enrolled 150 participants. Preliminary phase 1 data demonstrated SCB-2019 produced neutralizing antibodies to the coronavirus, CEPI said. — Jason Scott