hVIVO PLC (AIM:HVO) has praised its long-running partner Cidara Therapeutics after the American biotech agreed to be bought by MSD in a deal worth about $9.2 billion, saying the takeover highlights the value of its specialist work in early-stage drug development.
The London-listed research group, which runs human challenge trials, studies in which volunteers are deliberately exposed to a virus in tightly controlled conditions, said the transaction “underscores the value of hVIVO's unique capabilities.
Specifically, hVIVO was key in accelerating drug development, which helped advance Cidara’s lead antiviral candidate, CD388.
CD388 is being developed as a long-acting preventive treatment for influenza, designed to protect people who face a higher risk of serious complications.
The drug covers both influenza A and B and has been granted two fast-track designations by the US Food and Drug Administration. It is already in Phase III studies, the final stage before a company can apply for approval.
hVIVO said it had worked with Cidara throughout the programme, beginning with a human challenge study completed in 2023.
That trial enrolled 59 healthy volunteers and produced early proof-of-concept data showing lower viral loads in participants treated with CD388 compared with those given a placebo.
The company then served as the only UK site in Cidara’s Phase IIb field study during the 2024–25 flu season.
It said this was its largest field trial to date, screening more than 1,100 people and dosing 817 within six weeks, the highest recruitment of any site worldwide. The study met all its primary and secondary goals.
Beyond clinical recruitment and trial delivery, hVIVO has also acted as the central virology laboratory for Cidara’s phase IIb and phase III programmes.
Its work has included scientific consultancy, preparing sample collection kits, managing international sample logistics and carrying out multiple virology and immunology tests, including the primary endpoint analysis.
Dr Yamin “Mo” Khan, hVIVO’s chief executive, said: “We congratulate Cidara on this landmark transaction in the infectious disease space with MSD.
"For hVIVO, this demonstrates that our human challenge trial expertise can indeed lead to significant downstream value creation.
"It also validates hVIVO’s diversification into field studies and standalone laboratory services, facilitated by our highly efficient patient recruitment and site services along with our extensive infectious disease knowledge and capabilities."