Intercell, a biotechnology company, has initiated a Phase I clinical trial with the company’s vaccine candidate IC47 to prevent disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae.
This Phase I trial is a first-in-man study with a focus to obtain safety and immunogenicity data in a small population of healthy adults. Approximately 32 subjects will be enrolled in this open-label study. Approximately two different vaccine concentrations either with or without the addition of an adjuvant will be tested.
The development of Intercell’s vaccine to prevent pneumococcal disease is supported by PATH – a US-based non-profit organization. Having supported the preclinical studies of the IC47 vaccine, PATH has now committed another $3.6 million for the further clinical development until second quarter of 2010, including the Phase I trial.
Under the terms of the collaboration, Intercell will develop the vaccine and make it available at an affordable cost for children in developing world countries at greatest need, where Pneumococcus is a major cause of infant and childhood mortality.
Alexander Gabain, chief scientific officer of Intercell, said: The initiation of this clinical Phase I trial is an important step to further strengthen Intercell’s leading position in the development of vaccines against infectious diseases with significant unmet medical need.