Media
Providence’s COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Challenger Seen In Phase III In Q1
Executive Summary
A possible alternative to Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, Providence Therapeutics’ mRNA candidate is seen moving into Phase III trials during the calendar first quarter of next year. While partners Everest Medicines and Biological E have kept the ball rolling, the Canadian biotech will seek further funding, CEO Brad Sorenson tells Scrip in this audio interview.
Pfizer Inc.
and Moderna, Inc. have undoubtedly created a success story with their mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. However, their reluctance to share the technical know-how involved is leading to a demand-supply gap that is permitting other mRNA vaccine companies to step in.
One such contender is Providence Therapeutics Holdings Inc., which has two candidates - PTX-COVID19-B that acts in a similar manner to their other vaccines and PTX-COVID19-LT, which is being developed to have a longer-lasting immune response.
The biotech has received some funding from the Canadian government as well as upfront payments from its Indian partner Biological E Limited. and Chinese partner Everest Medicines Limited. It now plans to seek a further $400m in funding, CEO Brad Sorenson tells Scrip in this audio interview.
Along with Biological E and its North American partners - Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. and Northern Therapeutics Inc.- Providence aims to produce 1-1.5 billion doses of its coronavirus vaccines.
In the interview, Sorenson also discusses vaccines against cancer that are part of Providence Therapeutics’ suite of mRNA products.
The biotech has received some funding from the Canadian government as well as upfront payments from its Indian partner Biological E Limited. and Chinese partner Everest Medicines Limited. It now plans to seek a further $400m in funding, CEO Brad Sorenson tells Scrip in this audio interview.
Along with Biological E and its North American partners - Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. and Northern Therapeutics Inc.- Providence aims to produce 1-1.5 billion doses of its coronavirus vaccines.
In the interview, Sorenson also discusses vaccines against cancer that are part of Providence Therapeutics’ suite of mRNA products.
Time Stamps
- 00:10 Introduction
- 00:47 Setting up capabilities for mRNA vaccines
- 01:30 How do the two COVID-19 vaccine candidates differ?
- 02:48 Phase II, Phase III clinical trials details
- 03:39 Partnerships with Biological E, Everest Medicines, Emergent Biosolutions, Northern
- 06:26 Potential as a booster dose
- 07:41 Participation in Solidarity Trials and COVAX
- 08:58 Development of anti-cancer vaccines
- 10:27 Funding from Canadian government so far
- 11:56 Future pathways to raising funds