HKU and CEPI Extend Collaboration on Development of Nasal Spray COVID-19 Vaccine

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has extended its collaboration with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to evaluate a nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine using a live attenuated influenza viral vector. Led by the State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases (SKL) at HKU, this effort aims to advance vaccine development against COVID-19.

CEPI initially invested US$0.62 million in a partnership with HKU to rapidly develop a vaccine candidate for COVID-19. The current agreement provides funding for HKU to conduct preclinical testing of the nasal vaccine candidate.

Recently, CEPI announced an expanded partnership with HKU, committing an additional US$4.89 million to support the production of clinical trial materials and investigate mucosal immune responses during a Phase 1 trial of the vaccine candidate. This initiative is further bolstered by the support of the Government of Hong Kong.

Established in 2005, the SKL has been instrumental in Hong Kong's response to infectious disease outbreaks, with Professor Yuen Kwok-yung serving as a co-director of the lab. CEPI, launched in 2017, represents a collaborative effort between public, private, philanthropic, and civil organizations to develop vaccines to combat future epidemics.

The extended collaboration between CEPI and HKU signifies a crucial step towards developing vaccines that are easier to administer and cater to diverse populations and settings. Under the leadership of Professor Honglin Chen, the HKU team, including Professor Zhiwei Chen, Professor Ivan Hung, Professor Yiwu He, and Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, is at the forefront of this innovative research endeavor.

President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, Professor Xiang Zhang, expressed gratitude for CEPI's continued support, emphasizing HKU's dedication to advancing research in emerging infectious diseases. Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, highlighted the importance of investing in vaccine research for long-term management of COVID-19.

The HKU nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine offers several unique advantages, such as easy administration via nasal spray, potential combination with seasonal flu vaccines, enhanced immunogenicity, adaptability to emerging variants, and simplified production and storage requirements.