hVIVO PLC (LON:HVO) said a potentially breakthrough vaccine for mosquito-borne diseases is set to undergo a phase I clinical trial.
AGS-v PLUS was developed by Imutex, hVIVO’s joint with a London-based company called the SEEK Group.
The study will be carried out by America’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the University of Maryland’s school of medicine.
A multi-national collaboration, additional funding was provided by a UK government body called Innovate UK.
AGS-v PLUS is designed to provoke an immune reaction to the proteins in mosquito saliva, which can carry many diseases such Zika and Malaria.
The vaccine may also have a mosquito-control component, so the trial will also collect data on the fertility of mosquitoes which feed on inoculated volunteers.
"It is great to see the relationship with NIH and the University of Maryland School of Medicine continues as AGS-v PLUS, one of the assets in our joint venture Imutex, moves into the clinic,” said hVIVO chairman Trevor Phillips.
“We are pleased that the development of this asset is continuing with NIAID-funded researchers testing the vaccine and additional funding for the study by Innovate UK."
- In a separate announcement, the company said finance director Shelley Fraser is leaving to be replaced on an interim basis by Anesh Patel, formerly the company’s head of corporate finance.