Inventprise has completed vaccine administration in a Phase II study investigating the dosing range of its 25-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (IVT PCV-25).
The study is evaluating three different dose levels of the vaccine in 220 young adults aged 18-49 years across four sites in Canada, according to a 2 January press release.
Pneumococcus bacterium causes around 300,000 deaths each year in children under five years of age, according to the World Health Organisation. The bacterium can also cause pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis and middle-ear infections. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are currently given to children and older age groups.
US-based Inventprise says that current PCVs cover ten to 20 serotypes of the bacteria, with some disease-causing varieties not protected against. The company adds that its PCV-25 expands the potential to prevent emerging serotypes not addressed by existing PCVs.
The Phase II study is evaluating dose levels compared to Pfizer’s PCV Prevnar20 – which dominates market share. The adult population results will support the planning of a Phase II study in infants – slated for initiation in mid-2024. A Phase II study in older adults is also planned for H2 2024.
MSD also has an investigational pneumococcal vaccine. Dubbed V116, the candidate matched Pfizer’s Prevnar20 vaccine in efficacy and safety, according to recently announced data from a Phase III trial in November 2023.
The study is being conducted in collaboration with the global health non-profit PATH. Inventprise has developed its candidate with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The company received an investment of up to $90m from the foundation in November 2021.
In May 2022, Inventprise opened a new manufacturing facility to produce drug products used in the vaccine.
Inventprise’s executive chairman Dr Subhash Kapre said: “With this 25-valent PCV, we have worked to overcome many of the challenges by optimising formulations and manufacturing processes to enhance immune responses and enable higher coverage for children worldwide. We are looking forward to moving ahead to evaluation in infants.”
