BVXV: Positive Results From Phase 2b Trial of M-001; Ready to Move Into Pivotal P3 Trial as Standalone Universal Influenza Vaccine
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Positive Results from Phase 2b Trial of M-001
On July 20, 2017, BiondVax Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. announced results from the company’s Phase 2b clinical trial of M-001, the universal influenza vaccine candidate. The trial, which was funded through a grant from the European Union and was conducted in conjunction with the European UNISEC Consortium, enrolled a total of 219 participants aged 18 to 60 years. Each participant received two injections of either 0.5 mg M-001, 1.0 mg M-001, or placebo prior to a partial dose of avian H5N1 pandemic vaccine.
The trial hit both primary endpoints for safety and immunological response. The company had previously reported positive preliminary safety results based on blinded data from the trial, and has since confirmed that treatment with M-001 was safe and well tolerated. To test for immunological response, T cell activation was measured in in vitro assays through the release of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (INF)-?, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a. The following figure on the left shows that statistically significant T cell activation was found in participants that received 1.0 mg M-001 when compared to the placebo group. The following figure on the right shows that the there was a significant increase in T cells that expressed two cytokines, which have been shown to be functionally superior to single-cytokine producing T cells (Kannanganat et al., 2007).
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The study’s secondary endpoint evaluated antibody response to avian H5N1 pandemic vaccination. In one of the four H5N1 strains tested there was a statistically significant increase in antibody response in those receiving M-001.
Company Turns Attention to Pivotal Phase 3 Trial
BiondVax’s strategy for commercializing M-001 had previously centered on attaining approval for M-001 as a stockpiled vaccine to be used in the case of a pandemic outbreak and a primer for the seasonal influenza vaccine before initiating a Phase 3 trial of M-001 as a standalone influenza vaccine. However, BiondVax has had a number of significant positive developments in the past few months that has resulted in the company now considering moving M-001 directly into a pivotal Phase 3 trial as a standalone influenza vaccine. Recently the company has:
? Announced that the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry approved a grant to cover 20% of a NIS 20 million budget for the construction of a manufacturing facility for M-001. The facility will be used to produce sufficient quantities of vaccine for Phase 3 clinical trials and commercialization.
? Announced it entered into a $22 million (€20 million) financing agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to fund.
? Consulted with regulatory experts in both the E.U. and U.S. to determine the most efficient path to market.
The general outline for the Phase 3 trial is shown below. The company is planning to enroll approximately 7500 patients and will focus on patients over the age of 50. The primary outcome of the trial will be safety and clinical efficacy of M-001, defined as a reduction in illness rate and severity. The company is hoping to be able to initiate the trial in Fall 2018. A U.S. based contract manufacturing organization (CMO) will likely produce the first batch of M-001 for use in the first cohort of patients, while BiondVax will produce the subsequent batches in the new manufacturing facility. Following dosing, patients will be followed through the next two influenza seasons, with interim results likely after both seasons. Following patients past the third influenza season may be necessary depending upon the severity of the circulating influenza strains for each season (which will dictate the overall illness rate). Investors should be aware that this is only a preliminary outline of the potential study design and the details may change, however the general outline of the trial shouldn’t.
