Open Orphan first three volunteers in the COVID-19 characterisation study have now successfully completed the quarantine phase

Open Orphan plc (LON:ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist pharmaceutical services clinical research organisation and world leader in vaccine and antiviral testing using human challenge clinical trials, has announced an update in the world’s first COVID-19 characterisation study. Following Research Ethics Committee approval on 17 February 2021, hVIVO, a subsidiary of Open Orphan, began the study at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust earlier this month.

The first three volunteers have now successfully completed the quarantine phase of their study participation with no safety concerns presented and have been discharged from the unit. The study will now progress to the next group of volunteers. The first three volunteers will continue their study participation with follow up visits and monitoring for a period of up to one year. As is normal practice during any clinical trial, none of the partners in the study will be identifying any of the volunteers.

The virus characterisation study will inoculate up to 90 volunteers, between the ages of 18 and 30 years old, to enable identification of the most appropriate dose of the virus needed to cause COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in a safe and controlled environment. The study is funded by the UK Government and Imperial College London is the clinical study sponsor. The study is conducted by hVIVO at the Royal Free Hospital, under the scrutiny of highly trained scientists and medics. The virus being used in the characterisation study has been produced under hVIVO’s supervision by a team at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust in London, with support from virologists at Imperial College London.

Individuals interested in taking part in this research can visit www.UKCovidChallenge.com to learn more.

Chief Scientific Officer at hVIVO, Dr Andrew Catchpole, said: “We are pleased to announce that the first three volunteers in this world’s first study have now successfully completed the quarantine phase, these volunteers will continue to be monitored post-study for up to 1 year. Throughout their stay at the Royal Free Hospital in London, the volunteers are closely monitored by our highly trained team of clinicians.

“We would like to thank these volunteers for their participation in this important study and look forward to welcoming the following cohorts. We expect that this study will greatly assist our understanding of this disease and provide insights into its progression, natural immune response, and transmission. We look forward to publishing the study’s results in due course and moving forward with vaccine challenge studies later this year.”

Dr Chris Chiu, Chief Investigator and Reader in Infectious Disease at Imperial College London said: “We’re pleased to confirm the first group of three healthy volunteers has now successfully completed the first stage of the trial, with no unexpected issues. The volunteers are in good health. It would be premature to discuss further details at this early stage.” 

Group Chief Executive at the Royal Free London, Caroline Clarke, said: “We are incredibly proud to be working with our partners from hVIVO, Imperial College London and the government’s Vaccine Taskforce on this important research. We’re delighted that the first stage of the study has been completed successfully and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration as this research moves forward.”

Click to view all articles for the EPIC:
Or click to view the full company profile:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Open Orphan Plc

More articles like this

Open Orphan Plc

Monkeypox: The Lowdown

An ongoing outbreak of monkeypox was confirmed on 6 May 2022, beginning with a British resident who, after travelling to Nigeria, presented symptoms consistent with monkeypox on 29 April 2022. The resident returned to the United

Open Orphan Plc

Open Orphan’s hVIVO signs a £14.7m influenza contract

Open Orphan plc (LON:ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist contract research organisation (CRO) and world leader in testing infectious and respiratory disease products using human challenge clinical trials, has announced that hVIVO, a subsidiary of Open Orphan plc, has signed

Open Orphan Plc

How to stop the spread of germs

Flu season often wreaks havoc on workplaces, schools and communal living areas. It’s all too easy for germs to spread across surfaces and between people, swiftly infecting everyone within reach. It’s important to do what you

Open Orphan Plc

Open Orphan due diligence completed by Liberum Capital

Open Orphan plc (LON:ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist contract research organisation (CRO) and world leader in testing infectious and respiratory disease products using human challenge clinical trials, has today announced that further to the appointment of Liberum

Open Orphan Plc

Can elderberries help to fight the flu?

Elderberries have long been in the limelight when it comes to their health-boosting properties. In fact, Healthline declared them to be “one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world”. Now, researchers think they may have

Open Orphan Plc

Open Orphan to publish full year results on 7 June 2022

Open Orphan plc (LON:ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist contract research organisation (CRO) and world leader in testing infectious and respiratory disease products using human challenge clinical trials, has announced that it will release its full year results for

Open Orphan Plc

Open Orphan’s hVIVO wins a £7.3m influenza human challenge study

Open Orphan plc (LON:ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist contract research organisation (CRO) and world leader in testing infectious and respiratory disease products using human challenge clinical trials, has announced that hVIVO, a subsidiary of Open Orphan, has signed

Open Orphan Plc

The History of Flu

Flu & Influenza The history of the flu dates to as far as humankind. Familiar symptoms of the flu were first recorded around 400BC by Hippocrates, a Turkish seasonal winter to spring respiratory ailment that resulted

Open Orphan Plc

The lowdown on hay fever

Allergic rhinitis or, as it is commonly known, hay fever, is a reaction to allergens in the air. Most commonly this is a reaction to the pollen count, but can also be to dust, mould or

Open Orphan Plc

What is a Human Challenge Study?

During a human challenge study, a small number of healthy volunteers will receive a vaccine or drug which will be used to fight viruses. Volunteers are quarantined in our bespoke facilities in Whitechapel. We expose our