Professor Peter Richmond, Head of the Vaccine Trials Group
Australia’s first needle-free, gene-based COVID-19 vaccine study will be spear-headed in WA by The Kids Research Institute Australia thanks to almost $6 million in Coronavirus Research Response funding announced by Health Minister Greg Hunt.
Only the fifth DNA vaccine to enter clinical trials worldwide, and the first one in Australia, the COVIGEN COVID-19 vaccine study will begin by early December and evaluate safety and effectiveness when given to healthy adults.
Led by The University of Sydney and the Vax4COVID Alliance, The Kids Research Institute Australia was named as one of Australia’s most experienced vaccine trial sites and one of four locations chosen to participate in Phase 1 of this study.
Professor Peter Richmond, Head of the Vaccine Trials Group at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, and Paediatric Infectious Disease researcher at The University of Western Australia, said involvement in this study represents an exciting opportunity to help accelerate the development of a promising COVID-19 vaccine.
“The COVIGEN vaccine uses a needle-free system that delivers the DNA for the COVID-19 spike protein through the skin. This technology is already being used for influenza vaccines in the USA and has been shown to be safe and stimulate protective antibodies,” Professor Peter Richmond said.
Australian biotech company Technovalia and its international vaccine partner BioNet have been actively developing gene-based COVID-19 vaccine candidates since March 2020, with preclinical studies already confirming the safety and immunogenicity of COVIGEN.
“This first phase of the study will involve 150 adults of all ages, with participants receiving two doses of COVIGEN, given one month apart. If successful, a second and third phase of the study will be undertaken with a larger number of participants,”
“The results will then be used to inform government vaccination policies and provide essential safety information ahead of a potential Australia-wide COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.”
Professor Richmond also led the Western Australian arm of the BRACE Study alongside Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, investigating if an existing tuberculosis vaccine can reduce COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers.
Please contact the Vaccine Trials Group if you would like to register your interest in participating in upcoming COVID-19 studies.
For more information about the COVID-19 research by The Kids Research Institute Australia please visit the COVID-19 campaign page.