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Research team at the University of Saskatchewan's VIDO-InterVac. Photo Courtesy: University of Saskatchewan

VIDO-InterVac names firms to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine for human trial

Jul 31, 2020 | 11:23 AM

VIDO-InterVac at the University of Saskatchewan is partnering with two Canadian pharmaceutical companies to produce the vaccine candidate Saskatoon researchers are planning to bring to the human trial phase this fall.

Toronto-based Dalton Pharma Services is one of the organizations that will help develop the vaccine components. Biodextris and the National Research Council are the others.

“Dalton is pleased to apply its expertise in aseptic formulation and sterile fill/finish towards developing this leading-edge therapy,” said Peter Pekos, CEO of Dalton Pharma Services.

VIDO-InterVac director Volker Gerdts told Gormley on July 15 there’s a specialized process involved in producing a vaccine candidate for human trials.

“The clinical grade material that you need to have to go into humans. That is being done by special manufactures under very special conditions. Essentially an absolutely clean, sterile facility where you produce the vaccine components and then they get mixed together into these vials and then they go into the volunteers.

“It’s a very complicated process,” Gerdts stated.

VIDO-InterVac said recruiting will begin in late September with the first phase of clinical trials to begin before the end of the year.

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