TIDMORPH
RNS Number : 4986B
Open Orphan PLC
14 February 2022
Open Orphan plc
("Open Orphan" or the "Company")
Launch of STRiVE project
Respiratory viral strains suitable for challenge agents being
collected from consenting volunteers
Open Orphan plc (AIM: ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist
contract research organisation (CRO) and world leader in testing
infectious and respiratory disease products using human challenge
clinical trials, announces that hVIVO , a subsidiary of Open Orphan
plc, has recently launched the STRiVE project (Seasonal
Transmissible Respiratory Virus SurvEy) to collect respiratory
viral strains suitable for challenge agents from consenting hVIVO
employees. Collection of new respiratory viral strains circulating
in the community will allow hVIVO to continually update and broaden
its world leading portfolio of human challenge study models.
As part of STRiVE, volunteers with cold or flu like symptoms can
send nasal swabs to hVIVO for analysis. Since starting the project,
hVIVO has identified over 180 promising virus candidates that could
be used in the manufacture of novel challenge agents for its human
challenge trials. Viruses isolated include several strains of
coronavirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human
rhinovirus (HRV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), influenza, and
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
STRiVE ensures hVIVO can regularly update its challenge agent
portfolio with relevant strains as viruses mutate over time.
Manufacturing antigenically relevant strains on demand broadens
hVIVO's repository of viral pathogens and could help extend the
range of human challenge models it currently offers.
The average UK adult has an estimated 2-4 respiratory infections
each year, resulting in billions of pounds of lost output due to
illness. Despite familiarity with the negative impacts of cold and
flu viruses, remarkably little is understood about the hundreds of
viruses responsible that cause illness, including transmission and
markers of protective immunity. Using human challenge modelling to
better understand such issues could enable future public health
benefits and savings.
hVIVO has two decades of experience and expertise in safely
conducting challenge studies across a range of respiratory and
infectious diseases, including various strains of influenza, RSV,
human rhinovirus (HRV - common cold virus), malaria, and asthma.
This portfolio has also expanded to include the SARS-CoV-2
virus.
Cathal Friel, Executive Chairman of Open Orphan, said : "
Despite only commencing recently, STRIVE has already been a
remarkable success, with over 180 viruses identified and 12
different strains, with potential to be used as challenge agents in
hVIVO human challenge trials. I would like to thank all hVIVO
employees who have thus far participated and encourage more to do
so in order to continue to build up this important repository for
cold and flu research.
"Importantly, the STRIVE clinical research project will play a
significant role in the Company's efforts to broaden its world
leading portfolio of human challenge models. "
Adrian Wildfire, Director of Scientific and Business Strategy at
hVIVO, commented: " Access to viable strains of circulating
respiratory pathogens is extremely limited and this often presents
a significant obstacle to anyone seeking to grow a new viral
challenge agent. To grow a new viral strain a virus must be
collected from a human host, processed and stored in an adequate
manner to keep the virus alive.
"STRIVE will allow the Company to use its expertise to monitor
the viral strains of cold and flu that are circulating in the
community, and potentially lead to the discovery of new, wild type
challenge agents and the development of new human challenge models
with unparalleled translation into the field. "
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
hVIVO recruits many of its volunteers for its challenge study
clinical trials through its dedicated volunteer recruitment
website, www.flucamp.com . By volunteering to take part in one of
our studies in a safe, controlled, clinical environment under
expertly supervised conditions you are playing your part to further
medical research and help increase the understanding of respiratory
illnesses.
Individuals interested in taking part in COVID-19 human
challenge study research can learn more at www.UKCovidChallenge.com
.
For further information please contact:
Open Orphan plc +353 (0) 1 644 0007
Cathal Friel, Executive Chairman
Arden Partners plc (Nominated Adviser
and Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7614 5900
John Llewellyn-Lloyd / Louisa Waddell
finnCap plc (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Geoff Nash / James Thompson / Richard
Chambers
Davy (Euronext Growth Adviser and Joint
Broker) +353 (0) 1 679 6363
Anthony Farrell
Walbrook PR (Financial PR +44 (0)20 7933 8780 or openorphan@walbrookpr.com
& IR)
Paul McManus/ Sam Allen / Louis Ashe-Jepson +44 (0)7980 541 893 / +44 (0) 7502
558 258 / +44 (0) 7747 515393
Notes to Editors
Open Orphan plc
Open Orphan plc (London and Euronext: ORPH) is a rapidly growing
contract research company that is a world leader in testing
vaccines and antivirals using human challenge clinical trials. The
Company provides services to Big Pharma, biotech and
government/public health organisations.
Open Orphan runs challenge studies in London from both its
19-bedroom Whitechapel quarantine clinic and its state-of-the-art
24-bedroom QMB clinic with its highly specialised on-site virology
and immunology laboratory. The Company has a leading portfolio of
human challenge study models for infectious and respiratory
diseases and is developing a number of new models. There has been
an explosion in the growth of the infectious disease market, which
is estimated to grow to in excess of $250bn by 2025. The Group is
focused on refreshing its existing challenge models and develop new
models, such as Malaria, to address the dramatic growth potential
of the global infectious disease market.
Building upon its many years of challenge studies and virology
research, the Company is developing an in-depth database of
infectious disease progression data. Based on the Company's Disease
in Motion(R) platform, this unique dataset includes clinical,
immunological, virological and digital (wearable) biomarkers. The
Disease in Motion platform has many potential applications across a
wide variety of end users including big technology, wearables,
pharma and biotech companies.
Open Orphan's Paris office has been providing biometry, data
management and statistics to its many European pharmaceutical
clients for over 20 years. For over 15 years, the Company's
Netherlands office has been providing drug development consultancy
and services, including CMC (chemistry, manufacturing and
controls), PK and medical writing, to a broad range of European
clients. Both offices are now also fully integrated with the London
office and working on challenge study contracts as well as
supporting third party trial contracts.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms
and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information
contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an
anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services.
For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange
use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy
Policy.
END
MSCEAXAFFANAEFA
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 14, 2022 01:59 ET (06:59 GMT)
Hvivo (LSE:HVO)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Juin 2024 à Juil 2024
Hvivo (LSE:HVO)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Juil 2023 à Juil 2024