The University of Saskatchewan's VIDO-InterVac has contracted two Canadian pharmaceutical companies to manufacture ingredients for its potential COVID-19 vaccine to be used in the first stages of human clinical trials.
Toronto-based Dalton Pharma Services announced in a news release Tuesday it will be making parts of the vaccine being developed by the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre, or VIDO-InterVac, team in Saskatoon.
Biodextris, a company based near Montreal, has also confirmed it will manufacture part of the vaccine for early-stage human clinical trials planned to begin later this year, pending approval. That company is working with the National Research Council to prepare some of the materials needed.
Dr. Paul Hodgson, associate director of business development at VIDO-InterVac, said the fact both companies are in Canada was a factor in VIDO-InterVac's decision to work with them.
"One of the things the world has become much more cognizant of is potential limitations in borders and what can happen if a nationality decides to clamp down on anything," he said.
"But they are also world-leading companies.… We've worked with Dalton for probably the better part of two decades. Biodextris has roots in major pharmaceutical companies, so these guys are well-established companies."
Manufacturing has become a key part of the discussion about access to a COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, amid concerns about a lack of capacity to serve the population once a vaccine is developed. There is also the possibility governments in other countries could refuse to share a vaccine that is manufactured on their soil.
The Saskatchewan-based team is working toward human clinical trials by conducting trials with animals to establish its vaccine is effective and safe.
Manufacturing spike protein
The VIDO-InterVac vaccine uses a modified version of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 — the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 — to stimulate an immune response that would in turn produce protective antibodies and T-cells.
The spike protein is what the virus uses to latch on to human cells and infect them.
Biodextris is preparing a part of the vaccine known as the antigen — in this case part of the spike protein — which is grown in human kidney cells. The spike protein alone is not infectious and cannot replicate to cause the disease.
The company is essentially growing non-virus cells researchers can "tell" to grow a spike protein by introducing the right genetic material, said Biodextris president and CEO Joseph Zimmermann.
The company specializes in pharmaceuticals for clinical trials but is also working toward commercial manufacturing — an area where Canada is expected to need more capacity during the pandemic.
"As a scientist … it's nice to be able to try to help in such an important issue. I think that's kind of why most of the people go into the field," said Zimmermann.
"It's terrible when the issue comes up — for sure it's a bad situation right now — but I think now we're happy to be part of … trying to resolve it."
Positive results from 1st round of trials
Dalton Pharma Services will be manufacturing a different part of the vaccine known as an adjuvant, which works alongside the spike protein to provoke a broader activation of the immune system.
In late May, the VIDO-InterVac team reported positive results from its first round of pre-clinical trials in ferrets.
It is now working with hamsters to attempt to show the effect of the vaccine and bolster the evidence it needs before human clinical trials can be approved.
Vaccines need to go through three phases of human clinical trials before they can be approved by Health Canada, a process that usually takes five to 10 years.
In an emergency situation like a pandemic, some phases can be done in tandem and emergency authorizations can be used to speed up the process.
VIDO-InterVac is working toward approval in 2021.
