Volunteers are wanted for new vaccine trial
SWANSEA is set to take part in a new clinical trial exploring the effectiveness of a plant-derived coronavirus vaccine.
Swansea Bay University Health Board and Public Health Wales (PHW) are looking for volunteers to participate in the trial, which will test the coronavirus-like particle Covid-19 vaccine (COVLP).
The vaccine has already been through early-phase human studies and now requires testing on a large scale, and a study involving 1,500 people across the UK is starting.
The aim is to recruit volunteers between the ages of 18 and 39 who live in the Swansea area.
Anyone interested is asked to sign up at the trial website.
The website states: “This investigational vaccine is produced in a form of coronavirus-like particles, known as COVLPS, which are about the same shape and size and look very similar to live coronaviruses.
“However, COVLPS do not have any viral genetic material and cannot therefore cause the disease. The COVLPS are combined with an adjuvant before the vaccine is given. An adjuvant is an ingredient that may enhance the body’s immune response to the vaccine and allow for a smaller dose of the vaccine to be given so that more doses would be available to vaccinate more people once the vaccine is approved.
“The next step is to conduct this large clinical study to determine whether the COVLP Covid19 vaccine is safe and effective at protecting people from Covid-19.”
The study will involve volunteers making a maximum of 10 visits to the study site over approximately 26 months.
Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed and volunteers will receive payment for participating.
The Medicago vaccine study will run across 14 sites in the UK in addition to multiple sites in the US, Canada, Europe and Latin America. The study will enrol up to 30,000 volunteers worldwide.
Dr Brendan Healy, principal investigator for the Medicago trial and consultant in microbiology and infectious diseases at PHW, said: “We are all now starting to see the beneficial effects of Covid19 vaccinations.
“Whilst it is encouraging that we already have access to three vaccines in the UK, it is very important that we continue to develop vaccines so there is greater choice and an ability to select vaccines based on their individual benefits.
“Medicago’s plantderived Covid-19 vaccine has already been through early-phase human studies. I am delighted Swansea Bay will be recruiting in partnership with Public Health Wales into the next phase of this vaccine’s development.
“I would like to encourage people living in Swansea Bay and the surrounding areas to consider taking part.”
Andrew Jones, interim executive director of public health services at PHW, said: “Vaccines will play a crucial role in protecting our population against Covid-19 and this trial will help us to work towards the development of a further vaccine to protect the whole population.
“I am delighted PHW is involved in this crucial work and would actively encourage suitable candidates to participate.”
Dr Nicola Williams, director of support and delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, which is co-ordinating research and study set-up in Wales, said: “The Medicago vaccine study will be the fourth study opening in Wales and I am proud that researchers in Wales are working with national partners to find the most effective treatments.”