The execution of the trial entitles Dynavax to receive a $6m milestone payment from GSK, its partner in a worldwide strategic alliance.
As per the terms of the agreement, GSK has an exclusive option to obtain a license to the program.
The Phase 1 trial is expected to investigate the safety of DV1179, an inhibitor of TLR7 and TLR9, in multiple ascending doses.
Dynavax will evaluate 24 healthy subjects in the trial.
Following successful completion of the trial, Dynavax expects to initiate a proof-of-mechanism study in lupus patients.
GSK and Dynavax entered into a worldwide strategic alliance to discover, develop and commercialize novel inhibitors of endosomal Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) for the treatment of immuno-inflammatory diseases in December 2008.