TIDMORPH
RNS Number : 1451F
Open Orphan PLC
14 July 2021
Open Orphan plc
("Open Orphan" or the "Company")
World's first Covid-19 human challenge study to expand
COV ID-19 Human Challenge Programme update
hVIVO investigating COVID-19 infection in further volunteers on
behalf of the UK Government
Open Orphan plc (AIM: ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist
pharmaceutical services clinical research organisation (CRO) and
world leader in vaccine and antiviral testing using human challenge
clinical trials , announces that hVIVO, a subsidiary of Open Orphan
plc, is continuing to work with the UK Government to inoculate up
to 20 further volunteers as part of the world's first COVID-19
characterisation study.
As part of the characterisation study, researchers aimed to
identify a dose of COVID-19 that causes a safe and reliable
infection in unvaccinated COVID-19 naïve volunteers. The UK
Government has decided to expand the Human Challenge Programme to
answer further questions that can help in the fight against
COVID-19.
The study expansion will commence as soon as appropriate
regulatory approvals and clinical preparations are complete. The
study is funded by the UK Government who have commissioned Imperial
College London to act as the clinical study sponsor. The study is
conducted by hVIVO at the Royal Free Hospital, under the
supervision of our 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.
The data from this study is already providing valuable insight
into the biology of the virus which causes COVID-19. This knowledge
will improve the ability to manage the virus and deliver a range of
treatment options in the future.
The revenue from the contract is expected to be recognised in
the current financial year.
Cathal Friel, Executive Chairman of Open Orphan, said : "At Open
Orphan we are committed to helping the UK Government in partnership
with two great institutions, Imperial College London and the Royal
Free Hospital, to discover effective treatments for COVID-19. This
study expansion further illustrates the effectiveness and
importance of this study."
Dr Andrew Catchpole, Chief Scientific Officer of hVIVO, said :
"We are delighted to announce this study expansion with the UK
Government. This will enable 20 further volunteers to participate
in this next phase of the world's first study of its kind which
will help scientists better understand and treat COVID-19.
"Open Orphan, through its subsidiary hVIVO, is proud to be
working with the UK Government's Human Challenge Programme in this
initiative to help control and minimise the spread of the virus and
we will look to provide updates on the study with further
announcements in due course."
Caroline Clarke, Royal Free London group chief executive, said :
"We are excited to enter this next phase of this study with our
partners from hVIVO, Imperial College London and the government's
Vaccine Taskforce. Ultimately, we hope this research will give us
more information about vaccines, as well as its impact on infection
rates, and enable us to provide better treatments in the future for
patients with COVID-19."
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by
the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 (as implemented into
English law) ("MAR"). With the publication of this announcement via
a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now
considered to be in the public domain.
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
hVIVO recruits many of its volunteers for its challenge study
clinical trials through its dedicated volunteer recruitment
website, www.flucamp.com . By volunteering to take part in one of
our studies in a safe, controlled, clinical environment under
expertly supervised conditions you are playing your part to further
medical research and help increase the understanding of respiratory
illnesses.
Individuals interested in taking part in COVID-19 human
challenge study research can learn more at www.UKCovidChallenge.com
.
For further information please contact:
Open Orphan plc +353 (0) 1 644 0007
Cathal Friel, Executive Chairman
Arden Partners plc (Nominated Adviser
and Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7614 5900
John Llewellyn-Lloyd / Richard Johnson
/ Oscair McGrath
finnCap plc (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Geoff Nash / James Thompson/ Richard
Chambers
Davy (Euronext Growth Adviser and Joint
Broker) +353 (0) 1 679 6363
Anthony Farrell
Walbrook PR (Financial PR +44 (0)20 7933 8780 or openorphan@walbrookpr.com
& IR)
Paul McManus/ Sam Allen/ Louis Ashe-Jepson +44 (0)7980 541 893 / +44
(0) 7502 558 258 / +44 (0)
7747 515393
Notes to Editors
Open Orphan plc
Open Orphan plc (London and Euronext: ORPH) is a rapidly growing
pharmaceutical service/contract research company that is a world
leader in testing vaccines and antivirals using human challenge
clinical trials. The company provides services to Big Pharma,
biotech and government/public health organisations.
Open Orphan runs challenge studies in London from both its
19-bedroom Whitechapel quarantine clinic, opened in February 2021,
and its 24-bedroom QMB clinic which also has a highly specialised
virology and immunology laboratory on-site. Open Orphan has a
leading portfolio of eight human challenge study models for
conditions such as RSV, flu, asthma and COPD. In addition, Open
Orphan is also developing the world's first COVID-19 human
challenge study model as part of the Human Challenge Programme and
has signed a reservation contract with the UK Government for the
first three COVID-19 vaccine challenge studies.
Building upon its many years of challenge studies and virology
research, the Company is developing an in-depth database of
infectious disease progression data. Based on the Company's Disease
in Motion(R) platform, this unique dataset includes clinical,
immunological, virological and digital (wearable) biomarkers. The
Disease in Motion platform has many potential applications across a
wide variety of end users including big technology, wearables,
pharma and biotech companies. Following COVID-19 there is now a
renewed interest and investment in infectious diseases.
Open Orphan's Paris office has been providing biometry, data
management and statistics to its many European pharmaceutical
clients for over 20 years. For over 15 years, the Company's
Netherlands office has been providing drug development consultancy
and services, including CMC (chemistry, manufacturing and
controls), PK and medical writing, to a broad range of European
clients. Both offices are now also fully integrated with the London
office and working on challenge study contracts as well as
supporting third party trial contracts.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms
and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information
contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an
anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services.
For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange
use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy
Policy.
END
MSCDDGDRXDBDGBX
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 14, 2021 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)
Hvivo (LSE:HVO)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Hvivo (LSE:HVO)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024
