GSK, Medicago – which has big plant in RTP – taking potential COVID-19 vaccine to next stage

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Two life science firms with a big presence in the Triangle are continuing to develop a potential vaccine for COVID-19.

GlaxoSmithKline and Medicago announced their partnership in July and on Thursday said the vaccine is proceding to stage two clinical trials.

Medicago is based in Canada but has a big operation in RTP.

The companies are developing a COVID-19 vaccine that combines the latter’s Coronavirus Virus-Like Particles with GSK’s adjuvant.

“Our Phase 1 results of the adjuvanted vaccine candidate were very encouraging and fully support further clinical evaluation,” Nathalie Landry, executive vice president of scientific and medical affairs at Medicago, said.

“This is the first of several GSK Covid-19 vaccine candidate collaborations to start Phase 2/3 clinical testing and an important step forward in our contribution to the global fight against the pandemic,” Thomas Breuer, chief medical officer of GSK Vaccines, added.