6th Aug 2019 14:17
(Alliance News) - Clinical development firm hVIVO PLC said on Tuesday that it has completed the respiratory syncytial virus human challenge study on 60-75 year-old adults for positive results.
The tests found that RSV challenge studies can be safely performed on the age group, the company said, which would in turn "broaden hVIVO's commercial offering in RSV". hVIVO said it has already established an RSV model in the 18-60 year-old population.
The research was specifically conducted to provide the pharmaceutical industry with clinical data to evaluate treatments and vaccines for RSV, which is a virus that can respiratory tract infections.
During the study, volunteers resided in the company's human challenge clinical unit for a period of two weeks after being inoculated with hVIVO's RSV Memphis 37 Challenge virus strain. Infection rates, symptoms and virology in each volunteer was closely monitored.
Executive Chair Trevor Phillips said: "We are pleased to announce results from this study in an older adult population and broadening hVIVO's commercial offering in RSV beyond its already established model in the younger population that is currently the only such RSV model commercially available.
"These positive results mean we are now able to offer existing and new customers a model that targets a population that is particularly vulnerable to RSV and for use in vaccine or antiviral product development. The company's contract pipeline is experiencing a strong demand for RSV challenge study services and we anticipate this demand will continue reflective of the unmet medical need that companies are addressing."
Shares in hVIVO were down 1.3% at 19.50 pence each in London on Tuesday afternoon.
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