Newswire

“This major federal investment will accelerate VIDO-InterVac’s efforts to develop a Canadian vaccine against COVID-19, critical work that will help protect the health and safety of all Canadians and people around the world,” said U of S president Peter Stoicheff.   

According to a university news release, the money will support preclinical testing and two phases of clinical trials to ensure the vaccine is effective and safe for human use.

VIDO-InterVac has already manufactured a prototype of the vaccine and is currently undertaking a safety assessment in animal models — which is expected to be completed this summer. In the fall, the vaccine will undergo clinical testing on people in Canada to ensure it’s safe and has no adverse effects in human patients.

The lab was the first in Canada to isolate the virus and establish an animal model for testing; it was also the first in Canada — and one of very few across the globe — to already have a vaccine in the early stages of animal testing.

A vaccine may potentially be available as early as next spring, the release stated.

“Our goal is to make a safe and effective vaccine as quickly as possible,” said VIDO-InterVac director Dr. Volker Gerdts, who also noted the importance of developing a vaccine in Canada to ensure the country has timely access.

The money comes on the heels of two other federal funding announcements for VIDO-InterVac during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first, announced March 6, provided $1 million for research projects aimed at addressing the novel coronavirus.

The second, announced March 23, earmarked $23.3 million for the completion of the organization’s vaccine manufacturing facility to reach the standard required for human vaccine production, as well as continued operational funding for the high containment laboratories over the coming year.