Dynavax and Sinovac Announce Collaboration to Develop a Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine
April 16 2020 - 7:30AM
Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: DVAX), a
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing
novel vaccines, and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ: SVA), a leading
provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, today announced
that they have entered into a collaboration to develop a vaccine to
prevent COVID-19. The collaboration will evaluate the combination
of Sinovac’s chemically inactivated coronavirus vaccine candidate,
with Dynavax’s advanced adjuvant, CpG 1018 ™.
CpG 1018 is the adjuvant used in HEPLISAV-B®
[Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant), Adjuvanted], an adult hepatitis
B vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Dynavax developed CpG 1018 to provide an increased vaccine immune
response, which has been demonstrated in HEPLISAV-B. CpG 1018
provides a well‑developed technology and a significant safety
database, potentially accelerating the development of a coronavirus
vaccine. Additionally, CpG 1018 is manufactured using a highly
automated, robust, scalable process capable of producing the large
quantities required in a pandemic.
“The breadth of the global healthcare
community’s efforts to develop an effective vaccine to prevent
COVID-19 has been enabled by the prior research and investment in
infectious disease understanding and prevention,” commented Ryan
Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Dynavax. “A collaborative
approach across multiple technology platforms enables us to
demonstrate the potential for our adjuvant to lead to a safe and
effective vaccine to prevent COVID-19. We hope the prior
clinical experience and significant safety database of CpG 1018
will enable a rapid development process for a coronavirus
vaccine.”
About the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
(and COVID-19 Disease)SARS-CoV-2 is a new coronavirus
identified in late 2019 and belongs to a family of enveloped RNA
viruses that include MERS and SARS, both of which caused serious
human infections of respiratory system. The virus, which
causes a disease named COVID-19, has never before been found in
humans. Since this outbreak was first reported in late-2019, the
virus has infected over 1.9 million people and has caused over
123,000 reported deaths (as of April 14, 2020). It has been
declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Currently there is no vaccine available for COVID-19.
About DynavaxDynavax is a
commercial stage biopharmaceutical company developing and
commercializing novel vaccines. The Company launched its first
commercial product, HEPLISAV-B® [Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant),
Adjuvanted], in February 2018, following U.S. FDA approval for
prevention of infection caused by all known subtypes of hepatitis B
virus in adults age 18 years and older. Dynavax is also
expanding utilization of CpG 1018 as an advanced vaccine adjuvant
through research collaborations and partnerships. For more
information, visit www.dynavax.com and follow the company on
LinkedIn.
About SinovacSinovac Biotech
Ltd. is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the
research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of
vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases. Sinovac’s
product portfolio includes vaccines against enterovirus71 (EV71),
hepatitis A and B, seasonal influenza, H5N1 pandemic influenza
(avian flu), H1N1 influenza (swine flu), varicella vaccine and
mumps. Healive, the hepatitis A vaccine manufactured by the
Company, has passed the assessment under WHO prequalification
procedures in 2017. The EV71 vaccine, an innovative vaccine
developed by Sinovac against hand foot and mouth disease caused by
EV71, was commercialized in China in 2016. In 2009, Sinovac was the
first company worldwide to receive approval for its H1N1 influenza
vaccine, which it has supplied to the Chinese Government’s
vaccination campaign and stockpiling program. The Company is also
the only supplier of the H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccine to the
government stockpiling program. The Company is developing a number
of new products including a Sabin-strain inactivated polio vaccine,
pneumococcal polysaccharides vaccine, a quadrivalent influenza
vaccine and a SARS-CoV-2 (commonly referred to as COVID-19)
vaccine. Sinovac primarily sells its vaccines in China, while also
exploring growth opportunities in international markets. The
Company is distributing its products in over 15 countries outside
of China. For more information please see the Company’s website at
www.sinovac.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis
press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including
statements regarding the potential to develop a COVID-19 vaccine
and to do so on an accelerated basis. Actual results may
differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to
the risks and uncertainties inherent in vaccine research and
development, including the timing of completing development, the
results of clinical trials, and whether and when the vaccine will
be approved for use, as well as other risks detailed in the "Risk
Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2019 as well as discussions of potential
risks, uncertainties and other important factors in our other
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We
undertake no obligation to revise or update information herein to
reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new
information becomes available. Information on Dynavax's website at
www.dynavax.com is not incorporated by reference in our current
periodic reports with the SEC.
ContactsNicole Arndt, Senior Manager, Investor
Relationsnarndt@dynavax.com510-665-7264
Derek Cole, President Investor Relations Advisory Solutions
derek.cole@IRadvisory.com
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